More Lao products to receive national ODOP recognition
More Lao products to receive national ODOP recognition
Officials from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce's Trade and Promotion Department plan to award a national ‘One District, One Product' (ODOP) plaque for handicrafts and food and drink products produced in Savannakhet, Khammuan and Vientiane provinces.
The plaques will soon be handed over to mark the production of locally made handicrafts, food and drink in the three provinces, at a yet to be fixed date.
Department Director General Mr Somvang Ninthavong said recently a plaque will be awarded for the production of dried bananas in Xanakham district, Vientiane province. The province will also be awarded the plaque for its woven bamboo products and sweetcorn milk.
Mr Somvang said Khammuan's plaque will be given to recognise the success of its handmade products and khao nom pan , a kind of cake made with peas hemp and wrapped in banana leaves.
Savannakhet will get the plaque in recognition of several products, including food items and herbal shampoo. The food items include dried sweetened meat known as xinsavan .
“We expect ODOP plaques to be unveiled for products in all provinces soon,” he said.
Recently plaques were awarded for the production of 14 locally made items, including food items, drinks, herbal medicines and handmade products such as silver, weavings and wooden carvings.
These items are made by seven producers in Vientiane, two in Bokeo province and one each in the provinces of Luang Prabang, Saravan, Huaphan, Borikhamxay and Champassak.
“The plaque will be valid for three years and will be revoked if producers fail to maintain standards,” Mr Somvang said.
The criteria required for ODOP recognition require that goods are locally produced, contain local raw materials (at least 80 percent) and use local wisdom, and also relate to production processing and package design. The products must be of high quality and be certified by the concerned sectors.
The plaques are intended to introduce and promote local production throughout the country. The ODOP initiative aims to generate direct income for producers, especially poor people.
The ODOP endorsement certifies a quality product the purchase of which will be one way of helping in poverty reduction. ODOP benefits include higher employment and incomes for local villagers.
The ODOP certificate will push producers to work harder because ODOP is a nationally recognised label. It acknowledges the great effort the producers have put into production and improvement, and also the fact that the product is becoming increasingly popular.
“We also help producers with marketing and take them to participate in exhibitions overseas,” Mr Somvang said.
After the exhibitions, foreign buyers interested in certain products may wish to enter into business cooperation with the producers.
“In the case of noni juice, which is an ODOP product made in Chanthabouly district, Vientiane, Chinese buyers want to be sales representatives in China,” he added.
“Anther product of interest is rice, which both Chinese and Russian buyers want to buy. It is an ODOP product made in Naxaithong district, Vientiane.”
Lao ODOPs have been displayed overseas, for example in China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Cambodia and Vietnam. Many foreign buyers are interested in these products “because they are organic. The organic label is the outstanding feature of Lao products,” Mr Somvang said.
vientiane times
