Local silver handicraft gets national ODOP recognition
Local silver handicraft gets national ODOP recognition
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce's Trade and Promotion Department has unveiled a national ‘One District One Product' (ODOP) plaque for the silver handicraft production of Champa Lanxang Silver Handicraft Shop in Vientiane.
The Shop, which is located in Phonkheng village of Xaysettha district, was awarded the national ODOP plaque after running its silver handicraft production as a family business for more than 20 years.
The ceremony was performed yesterday and attended by department Director General, Mr Somvang Ninthavong, and officials from the districts, Vientiane Industry and Commerce Department and local businesspeople.
The event was partly to introduce the shop as an ODOP-recognised product and also to promote the concept of ODOP production in the country.
The silver handmade products include bowls, dishes, bracelets, earrings, rings, belts and necklaces with different decorative designs.
The products are supplied to both local markets and overseas including Thailand and Japan.
Champa Lanxang silver handicraft has now become ODOP certified because of the great effort the family has put into production and improvement, and the product is also becoming increasingly popular.
The criteria and standards of products that are selected for ODOP recognition include local produce, local raw materials (at least 80 percent), local wisdom, production processing and package design, and the product must be of high quality and be certified by the concerned sectors.
The ODOP certificate will push the shop and members to work harder because ODOP also means a national label.
A family member said the family started silver handicraft production in 1990 and supplied the local market. It had only few workers.
They had seen that sales were good and began improvements to produce larger quantities. Then the family opened a silver handicraft shop at their home in 2008. So far there are about 40 employees in the shop.
Xaysettha is the fifth district to get the national ODOP plaque and the silver handicrafts are the seventh product of the district in Vientiane that has been awarded the national ODOP plaque.
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.
There has to be at least five products in a district in Vientiane, according to a handout.
The ODOP project aims to generate direct income for the producers, especially poor people.
ODOP endorsement means a quality product will be one way of helping in poverty reduction because ODOP benefits employment and incomes.
vientiane times
