Vu Hy Thieu, an experienced member of the national council for honoring outstanding rural industrial products, assessed that poor design remains a major weakness of outstanding rural industrial products, especially fine art and handicraft articles, as most rural producers do not have professional designers and rely on their skilled artisans and workers. They need to study market needs and design trends in order to build product development orientations, as well as renovate technology and equipment in order to better and expand production.

Design remains a major weakness of fine art and handicraft items

Sharing Thieu’s assessment, many other members of the council said some of the rural industrial manufacturers applying to have their products recognized and certified do not meet the criteria on production scale, capital investment and market.

Many applications are for poor quality products, mostly focused on processed farm produce, forest products and seafood. The participation of equipment, machinery, mechanical tools and spare parts, and fine art and handicraft articles, remains incommensurate with their potential.

The problems negatively impact the recognition of outstanding rural industrial products.

Experts say manufacturers of national and regional-level outstanding rural industrial products must be supported in developing production and strengthening trade promotion, and policies are required for development of industry and trade promotion, rural industry and small and medium-sized enterprises.