Nguyễn Hữu Phước ( right) stands in the booth introducing Ngư Nam Seafood Co-operative's products at an agricultural fair. — VNA/VNS Photo

QUẢNG BÌNH - One of the typical examples in the start-up movement in Quảng Bình Province is Nguyễn Hữu Phước, 28, director of Ngư Nam Seafood Cooperative.

Phước was born and grew up in the coastal commune of Ngư Thủy, Lệ Thủy District, where people mainly depend on fishing for their livelihoods.

In 2019, he quit his job as an expert specialising in seafood processing with a stable income at a HCM City-based enterprise to return to Quảng Bình determined to start a business in his hometown.

“My luggage when I returned home was VNĐ70 million in cash and my accumulated experience after two years of working in HCM City,” Phước said.

At first, his parents disagreed with his plan of a start-up in his hometown, especially his father because he always wanted his son to develop a career in a big city like HCM City.

“But I have faith that I have the knowledge, bravery, and will to return and make a contribution to my home town,” Phước said.

Starting a business with a seafood processing model, Phước quickly built a 100 sq.m processing workshop from his family's land.

He borrowed money from relatives and friends, and luckily received technical support from the experts of Lệ Thủy District’s Agriculture Department.

He has actively participated in provincial start-up activities including training courses and conferences, where he learnt more experiences and searched for markets for seafood products.

Phước's seafood processing factory has supplied fresh, frozen and dried seafood products to not only provincial markets, but also big cities such as HCM City.

“Our products are all processed from fresh seafood sources that guaranteed quality from local fishing sources, and are granted certificates of food safety assurance, and stamps of origin traceability,” Phước said.

Phước said that his quality seafood products had been sold at agricultural stores, supermarkets and large restaurants in Quảng Bình and Hà Tĩnh in the central region, HCM City, Bình Dương and Bình Phước in the south, and the Central Highland province of Gia Lai.

Being established on March, 2021, Ngư Nam Co-operative now has two products: dried squid and spiced dried snakehead fish recognized as OCOP (One Commune One Product) products in 2021.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's OCOP programme aims for the development of the product value chain associated with local raw materials, promotes training activities, product innovation and creativity, quality management, food safety, skills in packaging design, labelling and product design, and marketing.

The project "Processing spiced dried snakehead fish" brought Phước the third prize of the Quảng Bình Province’s Innovation Startup Contest in 2021.

In 2021, the Ngư Nam Cooperative achieved total revenue of VNĐ1.5 billion, with a profit of VNĐ150 million. It strives to achieve total revenue of VNĐ3.5 billion this year.

Currently, there are 12 local labourers working full-time with stable incomes from VNĐ3 to VNĐ4 million per month.

Phước said that it was planning to expand the factory area to 1,000sq.m, have new products and develop the purchase of aquatic resources from local fishermen.

Phạm Văn Hoạt, Secretary of Lệ Thủy District’s Youth Union, said that the success of Phước's business model helped him become a typical example of the youth movement. Phước also contributed to charity activities for the community.

Đặng Đại Bàng, Secretary of the Quảng Bình Provincial Youth Union, said that in order to support young people in starting their own businesses, the youth union promoted communication about entrepreneurship through start-up clubs.

In the past five years, the Youth Employment Service Centre of Quảng Bình Province has coordinated with the Youth Union to organise counseling and career guidance meetings for nearly 82,250 young people, introduce jobs for more than 9,950 young people and help 2,090 others go to work abroad. — VNS