Craft village development facilitated
(VEN) - Industry promotion programs have spent a considerable amount of capital to help craft villages
Export growth
Hanoi has more than 1,350 craft villages, 318 of which are officially recognized.
Tran Thi Phuong Lan, Acting Director of the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade, says traditional craft villages have been helping enrich Hanoi’s culture with high-quality, competitive and beautifully designed products.
The government’s and Hanoi’s industry, trade and tourism promotion programs have been helping craft villages develop production and exports.
Ha Thi Vinh, Director of the Quang Vinh Ceramic Co., Ltd., said 95 percent of her company's products are exported to the EU, the US and other markets. In 2021, the company's export value increased 26-27 percent over the previous year. This year, the company has received orders for production and export until October and is expecting export revenue growth of 5-7 percent over 2021. Free trade agreements (FTAs), to which Vietnam is a signatory, offer opportunities for exporters in general and handicrafts and fine art ceramics producers in particular, she added.
Fine art ceramics
According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, Vietnam’s fine art ceramic exports reached an estimated US$25 million in April 2022, down 15.1 percent compared to March 2022 but up 17.5 percent from April 2021, taking the total to US$102.36 million in the first four months of this year, 21.3 percent higher than the same period last year.
Economists say the growing integration into the global economy by Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular are opening up opportunities for craft village producers and products. Vietnamese fine and handicraft articles, especially environmentally friendly products, have attracted a growing number of foreign customers.
However, according to Vinh, fine art ceramic producers are facing a number of challenges, including the lengthy worker training, lack of workspaces, inadequate and inefficient mining planning, poor mining technology, and poor quality and insufficient supply of raw materials that cause manufacturers to import raw materials.
Ministries and sectors need to coordinate with each other to assist businesses in raw material access and trade promotion.
From 2022-2025, Hanoi will strengthen vocational training, research and adopt policies to develop the craft villages facing extinction.
Nguyen Hanh