Struggling to find solutions

Le Viet Nga, Deputy Director of the Domestic Market Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), shared that many local agricultural products and specialties across the country have large production output and short harvest times, driving the market into oversupply in the short term. In particular, in remote, mountainous, and island areas, consumption of the goods faces even more difficulties due to problems related to poor traffic infrastructure. Therefore, e-commerce is an inevitable trend, and an effective channel to attract customers to the regions.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade have been connecting local agencies, departments with e-commerce service providers to roll out the Flagship Store model

In reality, in recent years, ministries, sectors and localities have been coordinating with major e-commerce platforms such as Sendo, Voso, Tiki... to support thousands of farmers and cooperatives in approaching the e-commerce channels. A series of typical products and specialties of mountainous regions such as Luc Ngan lychee, Cao Phong orange, Shan Tuyet tea, Bac Ha honey, Ha Giang minty honey... have been promoted through the e-commerce channels.

Although the trade promotion opportunity for local specialty goods through e-commerce is great, it will also present challenges for businesses in terms of personnel with knowledge of technology; investment, operation management, marketing costs along with difficulties in building warehouses, product preservation and delivery, and after-sales customer care.

Support in sales of local products

According to Vietnam E-commerce and Digital Economy Agency (MoIT), the development of small- and medium-sized production facilities and businesses, except for those in big cities, on e-commerce channels such as websites and e-commerce trading floors remains modest and does not really bring expected value.

“Facing this problem, and in order to promote fully the effectiveness of the e-commerce channels, the Center for Information and Digital Technology under the Vietnam E-commerce and Digital Economy Agency has been connecting local departments, agencies and sectors with e-commerce platforms and e-commerce service providers to roll out the Flagship Store model of local stalls on e-commerce platforms,” a representative from the center said.

This is also a solution within the GoOnline national e-commerce application program, chaired by the Vietnam E-commerce and Digital Economy Agency in cooperation with major e-commerce platforms. It will provide synchronous solutions to help SMEs in localities optimize operating processes and manage sales channels to distribute products of local businesses for the best efficiency.