Ministry of Industry and Trade promotes market access for local agricultural products

Creating sustainable market opportunities for local produce

On June 4, the seventh edition of the “Vitality of Vietnamese Goods” programme, themed “Kinh Bac Market Fair”, officially opened at 62 Trang Tien Street in Hanoi. The event was jointly organised by the Agency for Domestic Market Management and Development, the Bac Ninh Department of Industry and Trade, the Hoan Kiem Ward People’s Committee, TikTok Shop, NAPAS and Central Retail Vietnam.

The event showcased a wide range of signature products from Bac Ninh, brought directly from production areas to consumers in the capital. Featured products included pink early-ripening lychees, early-season lychees, Nui Danh ginseng, golden camellia tea, Chu noodles, Gia Binh black garlic and Luc Truc bamboo shoots. By taking place in the heart of Hanoi, the programme enabled consumers to access local agricultural products directly while creating opportunities for cooperatives and businesses to connect with customers, distributors and potential partners to expand their market reach.

Tran Huu Linh, Director of the Agency for Domestic Market Management and Development, learns about products from Bac Ninh. Photo: Bao Trung

According to participating organisations, the programme’s greatest value lies not only in sales generated during the event but also in its ability to establish long-term market connections. Nguyen Thi Huong, representative of Toan Thang Agricultural Production and Services Cooperative in Bac Giang Province, said the cooperative currently distributes its products mainly through clean-food stores, restaurants and several supermarket chains.

Commenting on trade promotion activities organised by the industry and trade sector, Nguyen Thi Huong said: “These programmes organised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade are extremely valuable. They help us reach consumers more effectively and enable more customers to become familiar with our products.”

Nguyen The Thi, Deputy Director of the Bac Ninh Department of Industry and Trade, introduces lychee products. Photo: Bao Trung

According to Nguyen Thi Huong, each supply-and-demand matching event creates opportunities for cooperatives to meet new customers and distributors, helping them gradually expand their markets beyond their localities. This reflects the increasingly important role of the Ministry of Industry and Trade in supporting local authorities and producers in building sustainable outlets for agricultural products rather than merely addressing short-term sales challenges.

Bringing agricultural products into the digital marketplace

A key highlight of the “Kinh Bac Market Fair” was the integration of traditional trade promotion activities with digital platforms. Alongside on-site product displays, the programme featured a livestream sales session on the TikTok channel of the Agency for Domestic Market Management and Development, with the participation of actress Anh Dao.

Through the livestream, local products were able to reach not only consumers in Hanoi but also customers across the country. The initiative is regarded as a timely step as e-commerce continues to emerge as one of the most important distribution channels for Vietnamese agricultural products.

However, for many cooperatives and small businesses, digital transformation remains a significant challenge. Bach Kim Ngan, Director of Ngan Giang Luc Ngan Trading Co., Ltd., said her company had traditionally focused on production, exports and distribution through conventional channels.

“Until now, I had never really considered e-commerce and continued to rely on traditional channels such as exports, supermarkets and retail stores,” Bach Kim Ngan said. As a result, participation in the livestream programme provided an entirely new experience.

“I am delighted to have been invited by the Agency to bring our signature products to this event and to be selected for the livestream programme. This is something completely new to me, and I am both excited and nervous,” she added.

According to Bach Kim Ngan, the company hopes not only to promote its products but also to acquire modern business skills.

“I hope to learn more about new digital technologies and modern business practices so that we can gradually integrate them into our production processes,” she said.

Consumers explore products at the event. Photo: Bao Trung

Many cooperatives also expressed a desire for support in developing online sales capabilities. Nguyen Thi Huong said her cooperative had yet to effectively utilise livestream commerce platforms due to limited experience and operational expertise.

“We hope that government agencies and relevant organisations will continue to provide training programmes and support so that cooperatives and businesses can improve their livestream sales skills and create sustainable value for local products,” she said.

These views highlight that beyond organising supply-and-demand matching events, businesses and cooperatives are seeking long-term support throughout their digital transformation journey. By combining product exhibitions, business networking activities and livestream sales sessions, the seventh edition of the “Vitality of Vietnamese Goods” programme is introducing a new approach to trade promotion.

Under this model, the Ministry of Industry and Trade serves not only as a bridge connecting agricultural products with consumers but also as a facilitator helping producers acquire the tools and capabilities needed to participate confidently in the modern marketplace.

From early-season lychees grown in the Kinh Bac region to processed foods, OCOP products and local specialties, efforts to bring Vietnamese products closer to consumers are expanding through both traditional marketplaces and digital storefronts. This approach is expected to help local agricultural products increase their value, broaden market access and achieve more sustainable growth in the years ahead.

Photos from the event:

Representative products from Bac Ninh displays at the event.

Consumers in Hanoi learn about local products. Photo: Bao Trung.