Industrial promotion as a catalyst for rural industry

Duong Van Hoan, Deputy Director of Thai Nguyen province’s Department of Industry and Trade, shared that from 2021 to 2025, the province implemented 135 industrial promotion projects with a total support budget of VND 44.3 billion for rural industrial establishments. 

These initiatives focused on enhancing management capabilities, adopting advanced machinery, and applying scientific and technological advancements in industrial and handicraft production. Support also included facilitating participation in trade fairs to showcase standout rural industrial products, promoting market connections, and disseminating policies to encourage proactive investment and production expansion.

Industries such as tea processing, vermicelli production, forestry products, and mechanics have received targeted support, leading to modernized production lines, increased productivity, and improved product quality. These efforts have expanded market access, created jobs, boosted incomes, and contributed significantly to rural development and industrialization.

Hoan noted that the administrative merger has expanded the scope of industrial promotion, diversifying supported industries. With local communes and wards now directly managing these activities, support is more community-focused and responsive to grassroots needs. 

The issuance of Resolution No.06/2025/NQ-HDND on July 30, 2025, by the provincial People’s Council provides a clear legal framework for funding and implementing industrial promotion, enabling more effective collaboration with local authorities.

Overcoming challenges and charting future growth

Despite achievements, Thai Nguyen’s industrial promotion faces challenges, including limited funding relative to demand, small-scale and fragmented rural enterprises, and hesitancy to invest in modern equipment. The absence of a grassroots-level network of industrial promotion collaborators further complicates project identification and execution.

To address these issues, the province is intensifying efforts to raise awareness of policies and opportunities, encouraging greater participation from rural enterprises. Thai Nguyen is also integrating funding from trade promotion programs and national target initiatives to maximize budget efficiency. A key strategy involves shifting support toward industry-specific value chains and digital transformation, combining access to land, credit, investment incentives, and technology to help businesses meet market and global integration demands.

The province continues to prioritize the selection of standout rural industrial products, not only to honor achievements but also to provide a platform for market expansion and enhanced competitiveness.

Looking ahead to 2026-2030, the Thai Nguyen’s Department of Industry and Trade aims to focus on industries leveraging local raw materials, such as tea and vermicelli processing, plantation timber, and mechanical manufacturing. These align with the province’s industrial and handicraft development strategy while delivering high value-added growth.

Key priorities include supporting the adoption of advanced technology and equipment in rural and mountainous areas, alongside strengthening management capacity to enable rural enterprises to integrate deeper into global value chains. By capitalizing on the administrative merger and implementing tailored policies, Thai Nguyen is poised to amplify the impact of industrial promotion, fostering sustainable rural industrial growth and contributing to the province’s broader socio-economic development.

From 2021 to 2025, Thai Nguyen has implemented 135 industrial promotion projects with VND 44.3 billion in funding, supporting rural industrial establishments. This reflects both the province’s commitment and the tangible impact of these policies on rural and mountainous communities.