Fourteen ministers of agriculture from African countries will visit Vietnam to attend the High-Level Inter-regional Forum on Experience Sharing for the OCOP model from July 14-16.

Following the forum, the ministers will embark on a field trip to visit and learn from OCOP product models in Vietnam.

OCOP stands for "One Commune, One Product", a program focused on developing the rural economy by promoting unique, high-quality products from each commune or village. It aims to boost local economies, enhance product quality, and preserve local culture and traditions. 

"The High-Level Inter-regional Forum on Experience Sharing for the OCOP model will be officially held on July 15. This is a ministerial-level forum that will be chaired by Vietnam's Minister of Agriculture and Environment," said Dr. Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

According to Dr. Tuan, the forum will focus on three main themes: Showcasing Vietnam's experience in implementing the OCOP program; A ministerial-level discussion on OCOP's contribution to the sustainable and resilient transformation of agri-food systems; and A dialogue on strengthening the application of science, technology, and innovation for the transformation of agri-food systems.

The second discussion session is expected to provide a platform for sharing experiences and success stories in developing the OCOP program, aiming to enhance market access, trade, and investment, as well as improve the nutritional value of specialty products.

Additionally, there will be courtesy meetings between Vietnamese leaders and the African Ministers of Agriculture on the sidelines of the forum. On July 16, the delegation of African ministers will take a field trip to Ninh Binh province.