ODOP products boost business sectors

ODOP products boost business sectors

Lao produced goods under the ‘One District One Product’ (ODOP) system will need sustained promotion to ensure they become brand name products as part of the development of small and medium enterprises, a senior government official advised recently.

Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad recently met with senior officials of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to give advice on trade, product development and other related areas.

“To promote SMEs ODOP, amongst other essential systems to boost business units in Laos, should be promoted in a sustained manner so the products develop and become well-recognised,” he said.

Laos is promoting the ODOP concept in several provinces across the country, which has already recognised a variety of products in more than 10 categories.
Mr Somsavat mentioned that several ODOP products were recently on display at various exhibitions overseas, gaining huge interest from buyers.

“Some would-be customers were disappointed because they were only able to see a sample or model of the product. Production needs to be stepped up, therefore, and the products developed into recognisable branded items,” he said.

A senior official at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce also said that the promotion of ODOP products is a strategic plan to boost different business sectors, making them more sustainable.

“Several promotional strategies can be used to achieve the sustainable development of products but one of these initiatives is to help the makers obtain permanent outlets for selling their goods,” he said.

He explained that many ODOP products have become well-known to both domestic and foreign buyers, for example the noni juice products from Vientiane have interested Chinese customers from Kunming in Yunnan province of China.

In the past few years many items have been awarded ODOP certification, gaining significant product identification by the Trade and Product Promotion Department under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
The presentation of the certificate is part of the implementation of government policies on local business promotion as it also aims to help eradicate poverty.

The approved business units were given an ODOP symbol to accompany their brand name having been proposed and selected by committees at district authority level.

vientiane times