Vietnam will share best practices on sustainable food systems, innovation, and rural development at the One Commune One Product  (OCOP) forum gathering 14 African agriculture ministers on July 15.

Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director General of the International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), announced the forum at a July 7 press conference in Hanoi.

The event will be co-hosted by the MAE and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to strengthen Asia-Africa ties in sustainable agriculture and innovation, explore Vietnam’s experience with the OCOP program, and foster resilient and sustainable agri-food system using technology.

The event will allow countries to share best practices and expand OCOP’s global impact by enhancing access to markets and investment opportunities while increasing the value of local products.

Bilateral meetings between Vietnamese leaders and their African counterparts are also expected on the sidelines. Additionally, the forum will enable mutual learning and experience sharing between Asia and Africa. Therefore, the forum will be an opportunity to reflect the cultural identity of Vietnam’s traditional craft villages as the country has supported brand building and trade of OCOP products. 

On July 16, participating ministers will visit the northern province of Ninh Binh to tour Sinh Duoc Cooperative, an OCOP model that combines herbal production and community-based tourism, and Dai Long Production and Trading JSC, the province’s leading producer of crispy rice.