Pu Mat Herbal Medicine aspires to conquer international markets

From a young company taking its first tentative steps, after nine years of entrepreneurship, Pu Mat Herbal Medicine Joint Stock Company (Nghe An province) has made great strides in the field of herbal production and business.

The achievements of today did not come by chance; they are the result of extraordinary determination, woven with doubts and criticism. Nine years ago, Phan Xuan Dien, then a government official with a promising career ahead, suddenly changed direction and "quit his job" to become a farmer. Outsiders talked, and even his family was skeptical, but Mr. Dien had his own perspective.

“At that time, I was Deputy Head of the Division of Agriculture and Rural Development of Con Cuong District. Due to the nature of the job, I often attended science and technology programs. Through conferences and seminars, I realized that medicinal plants had great potential and advantages for development in Western Nghe An. This perspective was further reinforced as both central and local authorities issued practical support policies, giving organizations and individuals the confidence to stick with this field.

I also recognized that clean agriculture, especially medicinal herbs, is a long-term and sustainable path, as people are increasingly concerned about their health and the origin of consumer products. This is not just a business venture, but also a responsibility to the community and the environment.

After a long period of research, I boldly proposed that Nghe An Province study and implement a medicinal plant cultivation project, focusing on flagship products such as Solanum procumbens, Gymnema sylvestre, and Gynostemma pentaphyllum. The years that followed were a memorable journey, although the road ahead was not paved with roses”, shared Phan Xuan Dien, Director of Pu Mat Herbal Medicine Joint Stock Company.

After observing the first two years and seeing that medicinal plants were suitable for the sunny and windy lands of Con Cuong, with stable growth and high bioactivity, Mr. Dien decided that the time was ripe. In 2018, he officially left his government job and rolled up his sleeves to start his business.

“I am an agricultural engineer and have been working in the field for 18 years, so I have accumulated quite a bit of experience. Still, I couldn’t avoid feeling anxious and worried. Ten years ago, things were very different. At that time, herbal cultivation was still a foreign concept. The reality turned out to be far from the textbook theories; only by doing it firsthand did I realize many things.

I still clearly remember the summer of 2016. It was a time of intense drought across the Pu Mat mountains. Worried that the plants would wither, we had to take turns working day and night, making use of every opportunity to pump and water the crops. Back then, our equipment was rudimentary, and we didn’t have the convenient drip irrigation systems we do today. We had to manually water nearly five hectares. Honestly, sometimes when I think back, I can’t believe we survived such difficult times”, Mr. Dien recalled.

We started with almost nothing, no factory, no modern machinery, only trust and determination. What I’m most proud of is that throughout the journey, our staff and workers never gave up, even when we were nearly exhausted by the harsh climate and a skeptical market.

Despite the hardships, the leadership of Pu Mat Herbal Medicine Joint Stock Company was determined not to “cut corners” at any cost. The reason is simple: herbal medicine is a unique product that directly affects consumer health. Any dishonesty in business will eventually come at a high price.

With a consistent policy, Mr. Dien and his trusted colleagues stayed committed. On the one hand, they took advantage of government support policies. On the other hand, they mobilized their own capital step by step to purchase and upgrade equipment, aiming for full autonomy from A to Z, from planting, caring for, harvesting, and processing, to packaging and bringing the product to market, everything is part of a closed, unified process.

“Herbal medicine is a product that serves public health, so we must standardize the growing regions and elevate the production process. Only by doing so can we meet the increasingly high demands of consumers. After nine years of entrepreneurship, Pu Mat Herbal Medicine Company now has 15 OCOP-certified products. Our goal is to have one or two 5-star OCOP products in the near future for export.

Currently, the company is working toward building a national brand, focusing on product traceability and raising quality standards to meet international benchmarks, expanding its market not only domestically but also aiming for Japan, South Korea, and the EU - markets that have very strict requirements for clean medicinal products.

Our company’s consistent and unwavering principle is to produce the safest products, ensuring the best health outcomes for the people”, emphasized Director Phan Xuan Dien.