ODOP offers stars to encourage overseas growth
ODOP offers stars to encourage overseas growth
The One District One Product (ODOP) initiative will now be offering to give their products' stars to help ensure their quality in an effort to expand export to international markets.
An official from the Product Development Department under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Mr Somvixay Vongvixay explained that ODOP was looking forward to a bright future of growth opportunities in overseas markets after the government pushed their improvement as the ODOP brand.
ODOP is now interested in both the domestic and international markets as the government would like an effort given to boost trade and to develop and improve their products in response to a wider customer base.
Mr Somvixay believes that giving stars to ODOP developers to stick on their goods would encourage better product standards and overall better quality. This would play a part in promoting ODOP products around sustainable development, giving them access to target markets, and creating more convenience in ODOP information collection.
The department will give one to five stars to point out the quality of the ODOP product. For example, products are given four to five stars if they are able to export to other countries.
ODOP developers are then given two to three stars if they can still improve their products to step onto a higher level as a part to drive ODOP growth.
Mr Somvixay added that sticking stars on ODOP's packages would also help Lao goods become more widely accepted in regards to their quality both on domestic and international markets.
The department will select three kinds of ODOP products; Food and Drinks, Handicraft, and Traditional Medicine, which will be allowed to use the ODOP mark, keeping the quality consistent in production, background, package design, trademarks, and potential for further sustainable business.
The Product Promotion Department reported that ODOP has continued growing since 2010, which now has expanded to 472 products from 119 villages in 67 districts across 17 different provinces.
Handicraft has enlarged by 70.7 percent, Food and Drink is up 21.7 percent, while Traditional Medicine has reached 7.6 percent growth.
