From local advantages to global thinking
Can Tho land with a system of rivers, canals and is rich in tropical springs. Recognizing the potential from available raw materials and grasping the green consumption trend globally, Mr. Ha Anh Truong (37 years old, Long My ward, Can Tho city) boldly started a business in 2018.
In 2022, he officially established a company specializing in the production and trading of handicraft products from water hyacinth, sedge, bamboo, and rattan. The product portfolio is diverse, from home decorations, table accessories to sophisticated fashion products such as hats and handbags.
Mr. Truong shared about his business philosophy: To conquer demanding markets such as Europe, America or Canada, we cannot rely solely on traditional skills. There needs to be a systematic investment in design, quality and especially environmental friendliness".
Thanks to this sharp thinking, from a small establishment that initially had only 10-20 employees, Mr. Truong's company has now developed into a factory of 6,500 m2 with more than 600 employees. The company has researched and produced more than 300 diverse product models, strictly meeting "green" standards - a key factor for export.
Currently, Mr. Truong's company exports 6,000 to 30,000 products per month, with values ranging from a few tens of thousands to more than 1 million VND per product. These products have been present in many major countries such as the US, France and Canada... Thanks to that, the company achieves a revenue of more than 1 million USD per year.
Not only doing business, Mr. Truong also actively contributes to the community. He has carried out many meaningful projects in local mountainous craft villages, including giving scholarships, opening free office IT classes for children, and building charity houses for workers, contributing to improving the lives of people.
Aspiration to reach far
One of the core factors that made Mr. Truong's company (Ecoka brand) successful was the construction of an effective closed-linked production system. Currently, the company is cooperating with more than 10 craft villages and cooperatives (HTXs) across the country, of which 12 HTXs are operating effectively.
This model not only helps the company be proactive in terms of supply but also brings practical benefits to the people. Most of the workers are farmers who can take advantage of their free time to weave water hyacinth, earning an additional 4 - 6 million VND per month, contributing to improving family life in rural areas.
Not stopping at the production of traditional handicrafts, Mr. Truong's company always proactively personalizes products according to partner requirements. In particular, strictly complying with international standards on safety, quality, environment and the ability to decompose Biodegradation. These are the keys to gradually conquering demanding markets in the world.
In the future, Mr. Truong aims to expand the cooperative network, invest in creative design and strongly develop a brand on international e-commerce platforms, continuing to enhance the value of Vietnamese handicrafts.
