Preserving and developing traditional craft villages

At the dialogue program with voters via television with the theme of "Traditional crafts and craft villages of Binh Duong province: Awakening potential" organized by provincial People's Council Standing Committee in coordination with provincial People's Committee and Binh Duong Radio-Television Station, the local voters have asked many questions about directions, solutions as well as policies in preserving and awakening the development potential of traditional crafts and craft villages.

Concerned about conservation and preservation

At the dialogue program, delegates and voters asked many questions related to policies on restoring, preserving and developing the local traditional craft villages. Provincial People's Council delegate Vo Thi Thanh Huong raised a question: "It is known that the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 801/QD-TTg dated July 7, 2022 approving the Program to preserve and develop Vietnamese craft villages in the period of 2021-2030, we request provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to tell us how we have implemented this program to preserve, develop traditional craft villages while creating conditions to awaken their potential in the coming time? Similarly, provincial People's Council delegate Nguyen Khoa Dieu An said: "For lacquer craft, the province has had a project on craft village development. So, for pottery, we suggest provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to put forward measures on preserving and developing this profession in the province in the coming time?

Voters attend the dialogue at the studio of Binh Duong Radio and Television Station

Voter Huynh Van Binh in Tan Uyen city said: “The province's general policy is to remove production facilities, including traditional craft establishments, in the South to the North. This is a correct policy. However, this also significantly affects the maintenance of production for the facilities. What solutions does the province have in mind to ensure relocation to be carried out in a harmonious manner? Sharing the same concern, Nguyen Tien Thanh, Chairman of Binh Duong Ceramics Association said that the issue of relocation is also a concern for ceramic businesses because most ceramic facilities now work under the household form. Only few businesses have enough capital to buy new construction land for relocation. On the other hand, skilled workers have already settled down, so it is difficult for them to follow companies to a new job location. Therefore, to preserve and develop the ceramic profession, he recommended that there should be specific policies such as planning a new production area that is not too far, with convenient traffic conditions to attract skilled workers…, to support businesses.

Setting up specific policies

The questions from delegates and voters at the program were answered by leaders of departments and sectors, fully explaining contents within their competence. In terms of the preservation and development of craft villages, Ho Truc Thanh, Deputy Director of provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said that the department will coordinate with localities to review and re-evaluate the current status of rural craft villages. Upon the practical basis, the department will advise provincial People's Committee on issuing policies to support traditional crafts and craff villages while advising provincial People's Committee on organizing the recognition of skilled artisans and workers to promote their quintessence and creativity, contributing to preserving the local traditional crafts.

Regarding the relocation of production facilities, Nguyen Thanh Ha, Deputy Director of provincial Department of Industry and Trade said that the department has coordinated with relevant departments and sectors to develop relocation criteria to advise provincial People's Committee. On the basis of the criteria, there will be specific criteria for carrying out relocation and conversion of functions. The department will also advise and propose special criteria to preserve and develop traditional crafts on ceramics, lacquer, sculpture...

At the program, Dr. Pham Lan Huong, a main lecturer at Ho Chi Minh city University of Culture added that in addition to local and State policies to stimulate the development of traditional craft villages, the role of craft village associations is very important via promoting business connections as well as sharing experience in developing international, regional and local traditional craft villages to orient product development and improve production and business efficiency for the local traditional craft villages.

Reported by Do Trong-Translated by Kim Tin