In order to tap local potential to boost exports, the standing board of the provincial Party Committee issued Conclusion No.12-KL/TU on the improvement of competitiveness for Hoa Binh’s exports for the 2016-2020 period with orientations to 2030. On such basis, the provincial People’s Committee issued decisions approving a scheme on improving competitiveness of Hoa Binh’s exports for 2016-2020 with orientations to 2030 and another on developing key farm produce in value chain to ensure food safety for 2018-2020 with orientations to 2025, a scheme on local science-technology development for 2016-2020 with orientations to 2030. The provincial People’s Committee also decided to issue a policy to assist firms in sci-tech development, approve the 2018-2020 intellectual property development programme along with economic development plans.

Over the past years, together with the planning of technical infrastructure in industrial parks to draw investment, the provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee directed raising exporters’ awareness of goods standards, intellectual property protection, and trademark marketing for farm produce of strength.

Director of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade Pham Tien Dung said over the past five years, the number of local firms majoring in production and export-import has increased in terms of volume and scale. The province is now home to 49 companies involved in export-import, up 40 percent from 2015. With its complete infrastructure, the Luong Son IP has drawn a number of exporters and foreign-invested enterprises operating in electronics, steel and apparel. Foreign firms’ export accounts for the lion's share of the province’s total shipments. The locality is seeing huge opportunities to boost exports when Vietnam has joined new-generation free trade agreements, especially the European Union – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) that took effect on August 1. The trade war and COVID-19 pandemic have also hit the country’s economy, including Hoa Binh’s, particularly in industry and export. But with drastic directions of the Government, ministries and agencies as well as relief packages, the local exports-imports grew stably again.

Hong Gia Bao JSC in Dong Lai commune, Tan Lac district working in wood processing, including producing wood chips for export, has generated jobs to 100 workers with a monthly income of 6-8 million VND per person. Its manager Nguyen Tien Dung said due to COVID-19 pandemic last year, the company’s turnover slumped. Therefore, the company actively sought consumers and suppliers of input materials. This year, it will expand production and trade, and build a plywood factory to better meet demand.

In addition to wood production and processing, the company also engages in a joint venture with a Korean enterprise to build a knitting factory in Thanh Hoi commune to diversify and further improve the quality of exports. The first phase of construction will be from the first to the third quarter of this year. Once completed, it is expected to install 700 knitting machines and attract about 500 workers.

The province has also strengthened trade promotion activities at home, and helped firms expand consumption. At the same time, it also invited local firms to supply-demand connectivity conferences, trade expos in cities and provinces to seek markets. The locality also launched 59 food production and consumption chains, paid attention to evaluating market potential and partners, and worked with ministries, agencies and localities to popularise its strengths.

Additionally, sci-tech application in production and processing is considered one of the factors to enhance productivity and product quality, thereby improving competitiveness of exports. The province has had one national project and seven projects under a programme to support technological application and transfer for the sake of socio-economic development in rural and mountainous areas.

Special attention was also paid to intellectual property ownership, geographical indication and trademarks. The province successfully registered intellectual property rights for 15 collective trademarks and seven brands of farm produce and traditional specialties./.