Local residents dry Chũ noodles in the northern province of Bắc Giang.— VNA/VNS Photo Đồng Thuý

BẮC GIANG — Bắc Giang Province has chosen three local products to develop into five-star products this year as part of the One Commune-One Product (OCOP) programme.

The specialities are Lục Ngạn District litchi, Chũ Township noodles and Yên Thế District chicken, said Nguyễn Viết Toàn, deputy director of the provincial Agriculture and Rural Development Department.

Toàn said the province also targeted 30 other products reaching four stars.

Under the programme, a five-star product is defined as a high-quality product at international standards while a four-star product is a good product that could be improved to meet international standards.

To reach the goals, the province plans to focus on strengthening dissemination to make local producers in the value chain change their mindset and standardise products, labels and packaging.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Dương Văn Thái told agencies to provide training for about 180-200 producers and 90-100 managerial officers of the programme and send managerial officers to learn from provinces and cities that had effectively implemented the programme.

The provincial department of science and technology was told to support OCOP products’ brand management, including trademark design costs, trademark registration, printing stamps and certificates, establishing industrial property rights and creating brand identity, he said.

The provincial department of industry and trade was asked to support producers to upgrade stores and connect with businesses to consume OCOP products, especially encouraging businesses and co-operatives to build OCOP centres in the province, he added.

There are 93 OCOP products in the province so far, dividing into six categories of food, beverages, herbal medicine, fabric, decoration and tourism. Of which, 40 products reached three stars since last year.

The programme was approved by Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc in May 2018 to develop one strong product for each commune nationwide.

An estimated VNĐ45 trillion (US$1.9 billion) of State funds is being spent to run the programme. — VNS