Outstanding achievements

At the 5th National Congress of the Vietnam Craft Villages Association, term 2024-2029, held on the afternoon of August 16, Mr. Trinh Quoc Dat - Vice President of the Vietnam Craft Villages Association reported on the achievements of the 4th term (2018-2023) and the working direction of the 5th term (2024-2029) of the Association.

Accordingly, in the last term IV, the Vietnam Craft Village Association has performed well in many aspects, especially making efforts to implement 6 proposed programs: Revival and development of craft villages; culture and tourism of craft villages; trade promotion, information, and foreign affairs.

The Association's action programs and activities are all linked to the State's programs such as: Campaign "Vietnamese people prioritize using Vietnamese goods"; Program "One commune, one product" and Program "National target program on new rural construction"...

Mr. Trinh Quoc Dat - Vice President of Vietnam Craft Villages Association reported at the Congress. Photo: Thanh Tuan

Implement and promote the Resolution of the 4th Congress of the Vietnam Craft Village Association, throughout and as the direction of activities of the 5th Congress: "Connecting craft village communities - Preserving Culture - Developing Tourism - Innovation - International Integration".

One of the important tasks of the Association in the past term was social criticism. The Association attached great importance to contributing opinions to the agencies of the Party, the National Assembly, and the State in the work of preserving and developing craft villages, such as contributing opinions to the Law on the Vietnam Fatherland Front; the Law on Preservation and Development of Craft Villages; the Law on Environmental Protection; the Law on Support for Small and Medium Enterprises; the draft amendment to Decree 66/2006/ND-CP of the Government on the development of rural industries; the Decree amending and supplementing the regulations on conferring the title of National Artisan; and reporting on the current state of the National Environment.

Trade promotion activities are also coordinated by the Association with units under ministries, departments, and branches at the central level and in localities: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Nam, Thai Nguyen, Quang Ninh, Hai Duong ... to organize many events such as: Fairs, exhibitions, product displays, cultural and tourism festivals, seminars, customer conferences, connecting supply and demand between craft villages and handicraft production establishments. All events are successfully organized and effective, thereby creating trust among members and partners.

Other activities such as: Science, technology and training; foreign affairs activities; communication work... have also been effectively coordinated by the Association.

The Vice President of the Vietnam Craft Villages Association also emphasized that the Association has followed the principles and purposes of the Charter, gathering and uniting craft villages, cultural economic organizations, artisans in craft villages, craft streets, managers, scientists, culturalists, research and training agencies to work with state management agencies to restore and develop craft villages...

Through its vibrant and extensive activities, the prestige and influence of the Vietnam Craft Village Association have been enhanced; State management agencies, press and media respect and acknowledge; many social and professional organizations highly appreciate it; production and business establishments, artisans, skilled workers, and craft village craftsmen trust and believe in it, considering it as the common home of the craft village community nationwide...

Many big tasks in the new term

Mr. Trinh Quoc Dat also emphasized that the 5th National Congress (Congress V) took place in the context of the country entering a new period of development, restructuring the economy, and transforming the growth model. The craft village community also entered a new period to match the country's development process, focusing on improving quality, increasing competitiveness, affirming and enhancing cultural and tourism values ​​in traditional handicraft products, meeting the higher demands of the domestic and export markets.

Delegates attending the 5th National Congress of the Vietnam Craft Village Association, term 2024-2029. Photo: Thanh Tuan

However, it must be recognized that the domestic economic situation still faces many difficulties and complex issues. Therefore, the 5th Congress is of great significance in bringing the Association to sustainable development in the new context, meeting the aspirations and trust of members and craft village communities nationwide in the current situation.

In the new term, the Association focuses on implementing key activities. In particular, implementing the Action Program to implement Decision 801/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister "Approving the Program for Preservation and Development of Vietnamese Craft Villages for the period 2021 - 2030" and the Strategy for Preservation and Development of Craft Villages. Specifically, developing a master plan for traditional craft villages nationwide; building stable raw material areas for traditional craft villages; building human resources for traditional craft villages; developing traditional craft villages associated with protecting the ecological environment; promoting foreign affairs and international cooperation, bringing Vietnamese culture and Vietnamese craft village products to the world. Focusing on strengthening cooperation with traditional relationships and opening up new international relationships...

Continue to implement the Resolution of the 4th Congress of the Vietnam Craft Village Association: “Connecting Craft Village Communities – Preserving Culture – Developing Tourism – Innovation – International Integration”. Promote activities to connect the Association with its members.

To effectively implement the above tasks through the process of organizing the 4th National Congress, perfecting the Association's organization, and enhancing the leadership capacity of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Craft Village Association.

The Association builds 3-party cooperation models: Central Association - Local Government - Craft Villages with the Central Association as the core, Local Government as the support and craft villages enjoying the results to promote craft village development.

Continue to implement the 6 proposed action programs, improve the quality and effectiveness of the programs. Promote the establishment of local craft village associations, have and develop representative offices to truly be the "extended arm" of the Association in the regions, thereby promoting the development of members and spreading the prestige and influence of the Association. Strengthen links with research and training agencies to bring science, technology, new designs, safe production into craft villages to have beautiful, safe products with high cultural content, in line with international standards...

The Vice President of the Vietnam Craft Villages Association also proposed that the State consider and give opinions to management agencies on the construction and promulgation of the "Law on preservation and development of craft villages"; allowing February 20, 1959, the day President Ho visited the traditional Bat Trang pottery village, Gia Lam district, Hanoi, to be "Vietnam Craft Village Day".

State management agencies have given their opinions and directions to remove difficulties for craft villages: solutions to handle the environment, production premises, and find outlets for craft village products; have specific plans and programs to promote the role and contributions to developing the profession of generations of artisans, especially People's Artisans and State-level Meritorious Artisans after being awarded the title; have policies to support capital, premises, and information for craft villages to continue to develop.