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Inlay with mother-of-pearl in Cam Van, An Nhon District. Photo N.T |
Vietnam Association of Craft Villages and Binh Dinh Department of Trade and Industry held a seminar on developing craft villages in Central and Central Highlands. It focused on solutions for the development of craft villages in the region.
Problems
54 craft villages in Binh Dinh, regardless of their ups and downs, have helped create jobs for people in rural areas. Their products have many distinctive features, made from alternative materials, such as bamboo, rattan, or stone.
The industrial production value of craft villages accounts for 18.6 percent over the industrial production value of the individual economy in Binh Dinh.
Craft villages in central and Central Highlands have strongly developed, according to reports presented at the seminar, but their potential hasn’t been effectively exploited. Also, due to their small scale, the employees’ income is still low.
The brand name and design haven’t been greatly paid attention to. At present, craft villages only focus on the production, ignoring marketing strategies. Many craft villages are now facing difficulties owing to different reasons. These problems obstructed the development of craft villages.
Solutions
Participants talked about policies and planning for the development of craft villages. They also discussed solutions to develop products meeting requirements and issues relating to industrial clusters and tourism in craft villages.
It’s necessary to build market strategies for their sustainable development. This must be done by each enterprise under the direction of functional bodies. Each localities need to carry out the planning for the extension of craft villages, said Chairman of Vietnam Craft Villages’ Association, Vu Quoc Tuan.
Alongside these, advanced technologies must be applied in the making of products to improve the quality and the competitiveness.
Provincial People’s Committee and functional bodies needed to quickly plan traditional craft villages. This will help some craft villages strongly develop. The vocational training also should be promoted, let alone incentive policies for highly skilled employees, said Director of Binh Dinh Department of Trade and Industry, Nguyen Kim Phuong.
It’s essential to build strategies for the development of craft villages, focusing on the planning, the construction of industrial cluster, advanced technology application, and the cooperation. Products not only have their own distinctive features but meet the demands, according to Dr. Nguyen Thanh Long, deputy head of Ministry of Trade and Industry’s local industry division.
All participants agreed that the development of craft villages requires comprehensive solutions. The cooperation among craft village is also important. Other measures, such as policies, the source of capital, trade promotion, and vocational training, are a great concern.
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