HÀ NỘI — A fair showcasing products of communes as well as hi-tech farm produce in the northern midland and mountainous region will be held next month in the northern province of Thái Nguyên.

The ‘One commune one product (OCOP)’ fair aims to honour Việt Nam’s high-quality agro-forestry-fisheries products which are well-known in domestic and foreign markets, organisers said a press conference in Hà Nội on Tuesday.

Nguyễn Quốc Huy, Deputy Director of Thái Nguyên Department of Industry and Trade, described the forthcoming event as a good chance for cities and provinces in the region to advertise their potential and strengths in agriculture and green tourism.

The fair, organised annually by Thái Nguyên province since 2016, will also offer a venue for businesses, farms and processors to exchange experience and set up partnerships, he said. The event will run from August 31 to September 6.

Also at the press conference, the People’s Committee of Bình Định Province announced that it will host a fair displaying farm produce, seafood and timber goods from the south central coastal region from August 1-6.

The upcoming event will contribute to promoting trade, as well as supporting and boosting agricultural production in a comprehensive, modern and sustainable manner, said Đào Văn Hồ, Director of the Trade Promotion Centre for Agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

In particular, advanced technologies in agricultural production, aquaculture and offshore fishing, preservation, processing and environmental treatment will be showcased, he added.

Statistics from MARD revealed that the national export value of agriculture, forestry and seafood products in the first half this year marked an increase of 12 per cent over the same period last year, reaching US$19.4 billion.

Of this, the export value rose by 9.7 per cent for agricultural products to reach $10.3 billion, by 10.5 per cent for seafood products to $3.94 billion and by 12.7 per cent for main forestry products to $4.33 billion compared to the same period last year. — VNS