Global Market Exposure for Local Artisan Goods at OCOP Event
The 2025 edition of the One Commune, One Product (OCOP) Export Fair (VIETNAM OCOPEX) took place in Hanoi from August 1, 2025, marking a significant national trade promotion event. Organised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Hanoi People's Committee, and Vietnam Cooperative Alliance, the fair featured over 300 booths from more than 200 exhibitors representing 34 provinces and cities across Vietnam [1][2][4].
The fair showcased thousands of certified OCOP products, including tea, coffee, cashew nuts, handicrafts, medicinal herbs, agarwood, essential oils, turmeric starch, processed foods, bird's nest, and beauty products like shampoo and serum [1][2][4]. International participation included booths from countries such as Peru, Laos, and Cambodia, along with commercial connecting booths, enhancing global trade linkages [1][2][3][4].
Deputy Chairman of the municipal People's Committee, Nguyen Maanh Quyen, and Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan, attended the opening ceremony of the fair, emphasising the importance of the OCOP programme in the context of diverse natural resources, favourable climate conditions, and distinctive culture in Vietnam [1][4].
The OCOP programme plays a key role in promoting the value and positioning of rural goods, with Hanoi currently hosting over 3,317 OCOP-certified products, the highest number in Vietnam, representing 21.3% of the total nationwide [2]. The fair demonstrated the determination of various sectors and authorities in elevating OCOP products onto the international stage [1].
Local producers had the opportunity to connect with foreign enterprises, trade promotion agencies, and international importers, aiming to bring OCOP products from rural communities to international markets and boost rural economic development [1][4]. As of July 2025, Vietnam had 17,068 OCOP products rated three stars or higher from 9,195 producers, including 126 nationally recognised five-star products [3].
Many OCOP products meet stringent international standards for quality, safety, and eco-friendly packaging. The fair also offered a unique opportunity for foreign representative agencies in Vietnam to explore the country's diverse OCOP portfolio [1][2][4].
Innovatively, this year's OCOPEX included a digital exhibition on the B2B platform Arobid.com, integrating AI, big data, and interactive 3D displays [2]. While specific details on digital trade initiatives at the 2025 OCOPEX fair are not explicitly mentioned in the available information, the fair's scale and organisational support suggest potential for digital integration.
In summary, VIETNAM OCOPEX 2025 was a comprehensive event showcasing a vast range of Vietnamese OCOP products from 34 provinces, featuring international participants from Peru, Laos, Cambodia, and fostering export opportunities through trade promotion networks in Hanoi, without explicit mention of digital trade promotion [1][2][3][4][5]. The digital exhibition marked a breakthrough in digital trade promotion at the OCOPEX.
- The OCOP programme, with its emphasis on rural goods, is utilising AI and big data for digital trade promotion, as demonstrated by the digital exhibition at the 2025 OCOPEX fair.
- Local producers, aiming to boost rural economic development, capitalized on the OCOPEX fair to connect with foreign importers, trade promotion agencies, and multinational enterprises for potential international markets.
- A diverse array of certified products, from food and drinks like tea and bird's nest to lifestyle items such as shampoo and serum, were showcased at the OCOPEX, drawing international attention towards Vietnam's distinctive environment and culture.
- Climate conditions and natural resources in Vietnam contribute to the unique advantages enjoyed by local producers, a factor that was stressed by the Deputy Chairman of the municipal People's Committee and the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade during the fair's opening ceremony.
- Beyond physical booths, the OCOPEX 2025 included a digital component, integrating AI and interactive 3D displays, signifying a possible shift towards digital markets for traditional and lifestyle products.
