The Northeast Region - Bac Kan Industry and Trade Fair 2023 was held in Bac Kan province from November 24 to 30, which is considered a large-scale trade promotion event with a variety of products, including many unique agricultural products of local ethnic minorities.

With over 200 booths, the fair is an opportunity for Bac Kan province to exchange, learn, and discuss with other provinces about developing commodity products and OCOP products. At the same time, it is a chance for organizations, individuals, businesses, and cooperatives to find partners, to cooperate in commercial activities, to promote the image of Bac Kan land and people to the whole country.

Previously, this fair mainly focused on consumer goods, garments... but this year, it had the presence of OCOP booths, including many OCOP products of ethnic minorities from Northeast provinces.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice Chairman of Bac Kan Province – Mr. Nong Quang Nhat said that Bac Kan province has many favorable conditions for developing agricultural and forestry products. Bac Kan is promoting commodity-oriented agricultural development, creating branded products that are competitive in the market. The province has 184 OCOP products, and over 90 products recognized as typical rural industrial products.

Most of the booths of provinces at the fair not only featured products and strengths of each region but also marked cultural identity, such as the booths of Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, and Nam Dinh provinces with seafood products such as squid cakes, fish cakes, and fish sauce; Yen Bai province with anise and cinnamon essential oil products; Tuyen Quang province with chili bamboo shoots, dried bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms, and snails; Cao Bang province with shiitake mushroom products, dried buffalo meat, dried pork, and black jelly; Ha Giang province with shiitake mushroom, honey, and polygonum products; Bac Giang province with dried lychee products and rice noodles; Hanoi with cordyceps products...

The booth of Bac Kan Province introduced many OCOP products of ethnic minorities in the province, which are typical agricultural specialties, including very new products appearing at the fair for the first time. This shows that Bac Kan province's agricultural product development speed is not inferior to other provinces in the region, typically dried noodles, dong vermicelli, dried bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, yellow flower tea, Shan Tuyet tea, dried pork, dried buffalo meat, Bang Phuc leaf wine, medicinal products, bamboo and rattan handicrafts, and brocade products…

Currently, Bac Kan province has 184 OCOP products, and over 90 products recognized as typical rural industrial products, many of which meet 5-star and 4-star standards. These are products of ethnic minorities that are recognized as typical rural industrial products at the regional and national level, ensuring standards of quality and design, affirming brands, enhancing the value of participating in domestic and export markets.

Some OCOP products of Bac Kan province have been exported, such as Tai Hoan vermicelli exported to the Czech Republic, Thanh Tam leaf wine, fruits, and processed agricultural products (yellow apricots, kieu, ginger products...) exported to the Japanese market...

Bac Kan’s goal by 2025 is to have 200 OCOP products, of which at least 2 products will achieve the 5-star standards. The province also aims to develop products in depth through continuing to support entities to upgrade and perfect products; innovate and improve technological processes...

According to the Department of Domestic Market under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the ministry has developed and implemented a series of programs, projects, schemes, and activities to increase convenience and reduce difficulties for businesses that produce and consume products in the domestic market, promoting the connection of supply and demand, trade, consumption of local specialty products, as well as rural industrial products, typical products of localities in general and Bac Kan in particular.