Vientiane fish processors win ‘one district, one product' certification
Vientiane fish processors win ‘one district, one product' certification
A small Vientiane company named Houng Heuang Sinh, which makes padaek or fermented fish products, was awarded a One District, One Product (ODOP) trademark by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce recently.
“This is the first ever manufa cturing company to receive an ODOP trade mark from the ministry's Trade and Product Promotion Department,” the depart ment's Deputy Director, Mr Phouvong Phommabouth, said at the trademark handover ceremony.
Mr Phouvong, who is responsible for ODOP matters, said the presentation of the trademark aims to promote the implementation of government policies on local business promotion to help eradicate poverty.
“Suitable business units will be given an ODOP symbol to accompany their brand name; they should be proposed or selected by the committee at the district authority level,” he said.
Houng Heuang Sinh has met the ODOP requirements in relation to food processing, which stipulate the use of local raw materials and distinct packaging which people can recognise.
In the near future, the ODOP trademark will be awarded to several companies in Vientiane as well as some from the provinces, according to a senior department official.
Houng Heuang Sinh began operations in 2007, based in Chomphet Neua village in Sisattanak district, producing padaek for the domestic market.
“We began selling padaek (fermented fish) in several Vientiane markets but as the number of markets in Vientiane has increased, we have started to boost our output to meet demand,” factory owner Ms Vilaysinh Teuntan told Vientiane Times last Friday.
The factory is borrowing capital of 300 million kip from the Agriculture Promotion Bank (APB) on an annual basis, to fund the fermented fish processing, according to Ms Vilaysinh.
“Every day, we produce about 240 plastic containers of instant padaek. One container weighs 900 grammes and sells for 15,000 kip at retail outlets, while at wholesale prices you can buy 12 containers for 150,000 kip,” she said.
Houng Heuang Sinh employs five workers who are all family members. It turns over three to four million kip per d ay from sales of fermented fish.
Its products are now av ailable at many Vientiane markets and shops, giving customers a quick and convenient wa y to add padaek to their food.
Ms Vilaysinh said it has been a challenge to come up with new product lines and they have to be innovative in order to attract more customers.
“We don't compete with other manufacturers but we try our best to make sure our products are made of high quality materials and are tasty, clean and safe,” she said.
“Whether the products can be exported depends on the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. We need the relevant department to give us some advice because we don't know much about exporting,” she added.
Director General of the Trade and Product Promotion Department, Mr Somvang Ninthavong, Deputy Governor of Sisattanak district, Mr Phokham Sayasone, and other ministry officials were present at the event.
vientiane times
