Vietnam joins leading specialty and fine food fair in UK

Five Vietnamese food producers, with support from the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK, have displayed food and beverage products at the Specialty and Fine Food Fair 2023 in Olympia exhibition centre in London from September 11-12.

A leading showcase of artisanal food and drinks in the UK, the Speciality & Fine Food Fair is the home for fine food and drink discovery for buyers from across the retail, hospitality, food service, manufacturing, import and export and wholesale sectors.

This year’s fair draws over 500 exhibitors from the UK and around the world, including more than 200 start-ups in food and beverage, and thousands of visitors, offering a big opportunity for producers, wholesalers, retailers and service providers in the F&B sector to connect and seek potential partners and discover key market trends.

The Vietnamese stall displays specialty products, including Phu Tho specialty green tea, highland old tea, beer, coffee, cinnamon, star anise, honey with pink lemon, dried fruits, desiccated coconut, crispy coconut, rice, vermicelli, rice noodle, fish sauce, shrimp paste, frozen seafood, among others.

Le Hong Minh, Director of the Investment Promotion Centre for Industry and Trade, who is leading a Vietnamese trade promotion delegation in the UK, said attending the world’s leading food and beverage event in the UK, Vietnamese businesses aimed to introduce Vietnamese specialty food and the country’s export potential to British consumers and international visitors at the fair. They also sought to explore opportunities to set up links with trade partners at the fair and discover market trends to improve products, better catering to the UK’s needs and increase exports to this market.

James Murray, International Sales Director of Specialty and Fine Food Fair, is delighted that Vietnam has joined the fair. As the exhibition showcases the best food and drink from different countries, it is a good opportunity for Vietnam to introduce its wonderful products, he said, pointing out that for overseas companies, the fair is a route to the UK market. By exhibiting at the fair, Vietnamese businesses can present their products to the best food and drink companies in the UK, he said, hoping there will be more Vietnamese food present at the fair in the future.

Simon Mellon, a visitor from London, said he loves the vibrancies of Vietnamese produce. Years ago, Mellon had a holiday in Vietnam, enjoying the Vietnamese coffee, the fresh tropical fruits as well as refreshing smoothies. He said it was fantastic to find and buy some of these here in London, like dried fruits, cashews and rice.

Compliance with quality standards – a must to bolster fruit exports: insiders

Farmers and businesses must improve product quality, and strictly follow the rules of origin and ensure food safety to boost fruit exports, experts said.

They made the affirmation at a conference jointly held by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), and the Vietnam Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Post-harvest Technology and the National Authority for Agro-Forestry-Fishery Quality, Processing and Market Development under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in Ho Chi Minh City on September 11.

Describing fruit as a key agricultural export product, Deputy Director of the MARD’s Plant Protection Department Le Van Thiet said that fruit shipments in recent five years grow 10-15% annually, most of which are destined for China, the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the EU.

Negotiations to diversify export markets have made Vietnam one of the largest fruit exporters in Southeast Asia, while encouraging farmers and exporters to make more investment in their processing, packaging and transport facilities to ensure that Vietnamese fruit products meet foreign market standards, he said.

Pointing out several challenges that hamper fruit exports, including technical barriers, strict sanitary and phytosanitary measures and fierce competition, Thiet said farmers and businesses must comply with quality standards of importers, while promoting sustainable value chains for their products.

Additionally, as digital transformation still lags behind the industry’s development, he suggested competent sides complete and upgrade their database, e-training platforms and websites, making them more friendly with users.

Besides, the completion of guidelines to set up and manage packaging facilities and planting areas of key fruit, as well as sound plant quarantine measures in accordance with importer requirements will help boost fruit exports, Thiet added.

Manager of UNIDO’s project on quality and standard Bahramalian Nima said that total fruit export batches rejected to enter Australia, China, the EU, Japan and the US increased 42% in ten years, from 24 in 2010 to 34 in 2020.

The rejections were due to disease infection, poor hygienic control, and veterinary drug and pesticide residues, he said, stressing that Vietnam should improve its technical assessment capacity, improve food safety surveillance system, and work to better farmer and company capacity to control quality.

Regarding origin tracing, experts said Vietnam should focus on improving transparency through food supply chains to detect unsafe food, and find ways to identify whether farmers are planting their trees under good practice standards or not.

Most recently, the Plant Protection Department sent a document to several localities, asking them to temporarily halt planting areas and packaging facilities with codes that fail to meet requirements from the Chinese market.

The suspension was also applied for the batches related to violating growing areas and packaging facilities.

According to Deputy Director of the Plant Protection Department Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, the move aims to reduce risks for Vietnamese exporters as it could take them a long time to recover from the consequences when the codes are revoked by the Chinese authorities.

Vietnam exports record rice volume in 8 months

Vietnam exported a record volume of nearly 6 million tonnes of rice in the first eight months of this year, up 20% year on year, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

The department reported that the largest importers of Vietnamese rice in the January-August period included the Philippines, China, Indonesia and Ghana, with an over 15-fold increase in some markets.

In the rest of the year, Vietnam is forecast to enjoy a rise in rice export thanks to a large number of orders from many new markets. However, exporters are worried about a shortage of input materials due to this surge in global demand.

According to economists, the upturn will be seen in both domestic and world rice prices. Although Vietnam is one of the leading rice exporters, the country should pay attention to addressing current and long-term challenges, including those in food security and promoting the rice sector's advantages, advised experts.

According to the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Trung, Vietnam maintains 7.1 million hectares of rice farm each year with an output of 43-43.5 million tonnes. The area will expand as conditions are good for prices in the market, he said.

The official stressed the need to foster linkage between businesses and farmers to form production chains and build material regions, thus ensuring harmony between production and selling.

Chinese firm invests 500 million USD in tire production in Binh Phuoc

The Binh Phuoc People’s Committee on September 11 granted an investment registration certificate to China’s Shandong Haohua Tire Co. Ltd., allowing it to build a 500-million-USD tire manufacturing factory in the southern province.

This is the biggest ever foreign direct investment (FDI) project in Binh Phuoc.

The factory, located at Minh Hung SIKICO industrial park, is expected to be put into operation in the third quarter of 2025.

The Chinese company’s Chairman Wang Keqiang said that the factory will be capable of producing 14.4 million tire sets worth 770 million USD a year.

Once operational, it is expected to contribute to increasing the proportion of the local industrial sector and create jobs for over 1,600 workers.

Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Tue Hien said that the project will contribute to increasing rubber industry revenue of the province – home to Vietnam’s largest rubber tree growing area with over 240,000ha, promoting economic restructuring and raising people's income.

Binh Phuoc is committed to creating the most favourable conditions for the investor, she added.

In the first eight months of this year, Binh Phuoc attracted 26 FDI projects worth 710 million USD, 2.37 times higher than the yearly plan.

High expectations for trade on Vietnam - US partnership upgrade

The upgrade of the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the United States is expected to create unprecedented opportunities to promote new cooperative fields, according to insiders.

Statistics released by the Vietnamese Trade Office in the US show that amid several factors affecting total demand in the US market, Vietnam still maintains its position as the US’ eighth largest trading partner, while the US is Vietnam’s largest export market, with a trade surplus of approximately US$40 billion.

According to industry insiders, both Vietnamese and US economies are complimentary, not competitive, making it easier for  US consumers have various options for Vietnamese products available in their market with improved designs, quality, and competitive prices, contributing to strike the overall trade balance.

Tran Nhu Tung, vice chairman of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS), says garment and textile enterprises expressed high hope that the upgrade of bilateral ties would facilitate greater trade exchanges and open up a wealth of opportunities for major Vietnamese export products to enter the US market.

“Local firms have secured more export orders to the US in the fourth quarter compared to the previous quarter, hoping that the US will devise a tax rate mechanism for Vietnamese textile and garment products in a more competitive manner,” says Tung.

Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, points out that although the US is one of the key export markets for Vietnamese fruits and vegetables, local exporters face hurdles, for instance far distance, which has made it difficult for them to keep the freshness of the products long.

In addition, Vietnamese fruits and vegetables such as dragon fruit, mango, and rambutan must compete with those from South American countries that have lower logistics costs.

Nguyen therefore advises local businesses to focus on products that have a long preservation period of more than 40 days and storage process when exporting the product to this market.

From a business perspective, Nguyen Dinh Tung, general director of Vina T&T Group, a large fruit and vegetable exporter, anticipates that the country’s export sales to the US this year will increase by 40% compared to last year as the US has just reopened its market for fresh coconut products and grapefruit from Vietnam.

To boost fruit and vegetable exports to this market, relevant agencies are required to negotiate with the US side to get the greenlight for additional fruits such as passion fruit and soursop to enter the US market in the coming time, while working to strengthen trade promotion activities and get further involved into the supply chain, Tung suggests.

Le Hang, communications director of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), expresses her belief that joint trade, especially Vietnamese seafood exports to the US, will witness major breakthroughs after US President Joe Biden's recent visit to Vietnam.

According to Hang, the US has made up the leading consumer of Vietnamese seafood for several years. Last year saw Vietnamese aquatic exports to the US reach a record of US$2.15 billion, an increase of 80% compared to a decade ago with the main items being shrimp, pangasius, and tuna.

There remains plenty of room for local seafood to increase its market share in the US market, not only for traditional products, but also processed products, elaborates Hang.

Businesses must quickly adapt to market changes

Do Xuan Lap, chairman of the Vietnam Timber and Forest Products Association, analyses that the comprehensive strategic partnership will further serve to resolve trade barriers and promote greater trade development between the two countries.

Moreover, being part of the US supply chain will help the domestic wood industry to develop dramatically moving forward, Lap stresses.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien has said President Biden's historic visit coupled with the upgrading of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership will create important breakthroughs and help Vietnam enjoy a greater presence in the global value chains.

He has therefore advised domestic enterprises to quickly adapt to market changes, clearly define product strategies, partners, and distribution channels, and gain more insights into export barriers and trade defence cases to further promote exports to the market.

In addition, local firms are recommended to ensure that input materials have clear origins and do not affect the environment or use forced labour.

Thai Binh seeks trade-investment partnership with Australian firms
 
The Vietnam-Australia trade and investment promotion forum and a conference promoting trade and investment in Vietnam's northern province of Thai Binh took place in Sydney on September 11, aiming to facilitate direct contact and exchange of cooperation, business, and investment opportunities between Vietnamese and Australian government agencies, organisations, and firms.      

Organised by the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency, Thai Binh authorities, and the Vietnamese Consulate General and Trade Office in Australia, the event attracted nearly 80 representatives from Australian and Vietnamese enterprises and investors.

In his speech, Consul General Nguyen Dang Thang affirmed that the relationship between the nations is at an excellent stage, with trade being a bright spot. The cooperation between their localities is also developing well on the basis of implementing the Vietnam-Australia economic cooperation enhancement strategy.

Nguyen Quang Hung, Vice Chairman of the Thai Binh People's Committee, stated that the province is actively attracting foreign investment. Thai Binh welcomes Australian enterprises for effective investment, production, and business development, as the province has great confidence in and highly values their investment potential, scientific and technological capacity, and effective performance.

He vowed to accompany and create favourable conditions for Australian investors and enterprises in all aspects, including policy mechanisms, legal investment procedures, entry, investment, business climate, and more.

At the event, Joanna Kubota, Executive Director at The Parks, Sydney's Parkland Councils, noted that there are similarities between Thai Binh and regions under the councils, such as a focus on construction, agriculture, and infrastructure development. Therefore, both sides have many opportunities to exchange, cooperate, and learn from each other's experiences.

Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Sydney on the sidelines of the event, Kubota emphasised that the potential for cooperation between Thai Binh and Australian localities is enormous, given the sound development of the Vietnam-Australia relationship.

Meanwhile, Luke Magee, President of the Parramatta Chamber of Commerce, committed to helping businesses in Parramatta city in particular and Australia in general gain a better understanding of potential cooperation chances with those from Thai Binh and Vietnam, especially regarding the high-tech, manufacturing, and biotechnology industries, among others.

While in Australia, the Thai Binh trade promotion delegation had working sessions with representatives of Australian enterprises, organisations, and economic associations, who expressed their desire to expand cooperation with the province and Vietnam, on various fronts, such as trade, high-tech agriculture, industry, construction, and other priority areas of mutual interest.

Vietnamese and Australian travel firms ink cooperation deals

Budget airline Bamboo Airways and local tourism businesses signed cooperation agreements with Australian travel firms on September 11 at a business matching held in Nha Trang City.   

Accordingly, Australian travel firms will introduce their unique tourism products in a bid to attract Australian tourists to Vietnam and vice versa.

Representatives from 15 Australian travel firms paid a visit to the southcentral province of Khanh Hoa from September 9 to 12 to explore popular tourist sites and experience the numerous tourism products and services that Nha Trang City has to offer.

The Australian famtrip delegation, including travel firms from Sydney and Melbourne, surveyed tourism services at resorts such as Alma, Ana Mandara Cam Ranh along the Bai Dai beach, and adventure tours at Kong Forest, believed to be the largest forest adventure tourist park in the country.

Currently, Bamboo Airways is operating five round-trip flights each week between Vietnam and Australia on routes such as Melbourne – Hanoi, Melbourne - Ho Chi Minh City, and Sydney - Ho Chi Minh City, using the modern wide-body aircraft Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

At the business matching held on September 11, Dinh Van Thieu, vice chairman of the Khanh Hoa provincial People’s Committee, revealed that Bamboo Airways would soon open direct flights from Australia to Nha Trang City, a move which will help to bring more international famtrip delegations to the locality.

Vietnamese products impress visitors at int’l food expo

The Vietnamese pavilion has received impressive attention from visitors at the ongoing international Fine Food Australia 2023 Expo taking place from September 11-14 in Sydney.

Nguyen Phu Hoa, head of Vietnam Trade Office in Australia, said that many Vietnamese products have attracted importers, distributors and locals at the event such as coconut juice, longan, dragon fruit, coffee, tea, instant noodles, rice, and aquatic and handicraft products.

He revealed that in 2023, the office will take part in several international exhibitions and organise a “Vietnamse products week” to promote the country’s exports while seeking a linkage to international partners. He said he hopes that the presence of the Vietnamese pavilions at Australia’s leading international exhibitions will support the penetration of Vietnamese products in the host country.

The stall also provides foreign partners with information on Vietnamese major enterprises.

Vo Trung Hieu, Vinamilk’s International Business Director, highlighted that the event is a good opportunity for Vietnamese enterprises to directly approach buyers and representatives of supermarkets and retail chains who are seeking for partners. He highlighted that Vietnam has signed several trade accords with foreign partners which is an advantage, helping consumers to favour “Made in Vietnam” products.

Tristan Tran, a Vietnamese product distributor in Australia, said the increasing sales of Vietnamese products have consolidated trust of local consumers on products from Vietnam.

The expo is expected to provide an overview of the food market in Australia as well as the world for Vietnamese agricultural manufacturers, share experiences and update market trends, new regulations on food preservation, traceability and cultivation as well as harvesting.

As the food industry's leading international trade event, the annual Fine Food Australia showcases food and drink from across Australia and the world, bringing together thousands of businesses and hundreds of experts in the food and beverage, hotels and restaurants industry, manufacturers, exporters, importers, wholesalers, retailers, buyers, suppliers, and service providers.

Vietnamese, Taiwanese firms seek partnership in medical technology, equipment

The “2023 Wow! Taiwan Project - Health Tech Business Matchmaking Event” was held in Ho Chi Minh City on September 12, drawing more than 60 businesses from Vietnam and Taiwan (China) and witnessing the signing of a variety of cooperation deals.

The event aimed to support businesses in the field of technology application and medical equipment used in telemedicine. The event will help to expand international cooperation and trade connections between businesses from the two countries.

The novel matchmaking event is part of a series of trade connections activities between Vietnam and Taiwan in health care.

Bui Hoang Yen from the Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade said that participants were introduced to smart and synchronous information transmission solutions for disease treatment, remote image diagnostics, home medical monitoring supplies, and remote health monitoring wearable devices.

The event also helped domestic enterprises meet and exchange with Taiwanese partners to seek partnership opportunities, she said.

Director of the Commercial Division at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Ho Chi Minh City Chang Wen Chung said that Vietnam is an important economic and trade partner of Taiwan. The two sides have strengthened the transfer of technologies through the event, including those in healthcare, he noted.

He said that Taiwanese businesses attending the event are leaders in the healthcare sector, bringing solutions to meet Vietnam's demand in telemedicine, medical equipment, and health care support machines.

Chang said that the event provided a chance for medical firms of both sides to seek suppliers of equipment, products and services, along with opportunities for importers and distributors to promote their products and services, thus boosting trade and diversifying markets.

Japan's Tokyu Group keen on further promoting cooperation with Binh Duong

Japan's Tokyu Group Chairman Nomoto Hirofumi has pledged to continue cooperating and sharing its 100-year experience with the southern province of Binh Duong to turn the locality into a green, smart and worth-living city.

Hirofumi made the commitment at a meeting with Secretary of the Party Committee of Binh Duong province Nguyen Van Loi on September 12.

Briefing the provincial leader on the outcomes of cooperation between the Tokyu Group and Becamex IDC in developing infrastructure for Binh Duong New City, he said that it has encouraged other Japanese enterprises to invest in Binh Duong, especially in the locality's prioritised areas such as urban development and transport infrastructure expansion.

For his part, Loi welcomed the Tokyu Group's investment in Binh Duong and partnership with Becamex IDC. The two sides have conducted many service and urban development projects in the new city of Binh Duong, helping to implement the province's roadmap in industrial, service and urban development, he noted.

According to the provincial leader, Binh Duong is focusing on developing its transport infrastructure. It has launched the construction of Belt Road No. 3 and will start the building of Ho Chi Minh City-Thu Dau Mot-Chon Thanh Expressway in 2024. Binh Duong is also working with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on a trans-Asia railway project and another to connect the local metro line with Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line, while investing 10 trillion VND to develop a BRT system.

Loi said that Binh Duong has zoned off 20,000 hectares of land for urban development and 25,000 hectares for industrial development. He said the province hopes to strengthen cooperation with strong firms such as Tokyu in prioritised areas.

Currently, Japan is the second biggest investor in Binh Duong province with 350 projects worth 5.9 billion USD.

The Tokyu Group has engaged in many projects in Binh Duong, including Tokyu Binh Duong Garden City that was launched in 2012 in collaboration with Becamex. The project has a total investment of 1.2 billion USD.

Vietnam, Japan to join forces to advance green growth  
 
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has pledged to partner with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to strengthen Vietnam’s capacity for reducing carbon emissions. 
      
Vietnamese and Japanese representatives meet on September 12 at a seminar on cooperation in green growth – (Photo: VNA)
This cooperation will help improve resource management, enhance living conditions through cooperation with agricultural firms, and bring in modern technology to mitigate the impact of climate change and natural disasters.

The commitment was made during a seminar titled “Vietnam – Japan Collaboration towards Green Growth,” held in Hanoi on September 12 to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

The event, jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Vietnam News, brought together leaders from various Vietnamese ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Representatives from both countries, including JICA, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), provincial leaders, experts, and businesses also attended.

JETRO highlighted the significance of green development in addressing pressing issues in Vietnam, such as water quality, air pollution, waste management, recycling, energy efficiency, and carbon emissions. They recommended that the Vietnamese Government tighten environmental regulations, expand manufacturers’ environmental responsibilities, and expedite the transition to renewable energy.

Over the past five decades, Vietnam and Japan have strengthened their cooperative ties, especially in foreign affairs, economy and trade.

Japan has consistently been Vietnam’s top investor and ODA provider, with 2022 two-way trade reaching nearly US$50 billion.

This latest partnership aligns with Vietnam’s international commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26).

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu expressed optimism about the current state of bilateral relations, describing it as the most promising phase in their history. He emphasized the potential for further cooperation in green technology, energy transition, and the application of Japanese technology compatible with Vietnam’s development in the years 2030-2050.

As of August 2023, Japanese companies had got involved in 5,168 projects in Vietnam, with total registered capital of US$71 billion, ranking third among 143 countries and territories investing in the country.

Workshop discusses green growth strategy for steel industry

The Vietnam Steel Association (VSA) hosted a workshop on September 13 in Hanoi to discuss the green growth strategy for the Vietnamese steel industry.

The workshop was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Southeast Asian Steel Association, the International Finance Corporation, and more than 200 businesses operating in the steel industry.

Upon addressing the event, Nghiem Xuan Da, chairman of the VSA, emphasised that the workshop represents an ideal forum in which local and foreign firms can get updated information on activities of VSA, as well as policies and laws relating to Vietnam, the region, and the world. This will therefore help steel enterprises to devise appropriate development plans in line with the national and international green strategy.

“The development of Vietnam's steel industry towards the green growth strategy is critically important in implementing the Government's orientations and tasks,” Da said.

He added that the steel industry has gradually developed over recent times, making significant contributions to the country’s industrialisation and modernisation process, as well as boosting local economic growth in general.

Most notably, since 2015 the steel industry has strived to become the 13th crude steel producer in the world, taking the lead in the ASEAN region in the production and consumption of finished steel products.

However, the industry has still produced large greenhouse gas emissions and exerted environmental impacts. According to calculations carried out by experts, the sector is responsible for 7% of total national emissions and about 46% of industrial processes.

The transformation of steel production from "gray steel" to "green steel" represents an inevitable trend, Da said, adding that the occasion provides businesses with an overall view of the world's green development trends, while simultaneously heightening the responsibility to implement green production in a bid to meet the requirements of domestic management agencies and the international market, Da noted. 

Meanwhile, Hoang Van Tam, deputy chief of the Office of Climate Change and Green Growth under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, stressed that solutions to respond to climate change must be integrated in the Industry and Trade sector’s development schemes to ensure the steel sector’s stable development.

At the event, Tam also introduced the Green Growth Strategy of the Industry and Trade sector, along with further activities which seek to create a legal corridor for implementing green growth and reducing greenhouse emissions moving forward.

Quang Ninh seeks ways to attract Muslim tourists

The northern province of Quang Ninh hosted a conference on September 12 to attract Muslim tourists to the locality as part of its scheme to fully tap into the potential of the international tourism market.

This means that the province is one of the first localities in the country to seek ways to lure the tourist segment after the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, following the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a trend of Muslim tourists preferring to visit Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam.

Nguyen Thi Huyen Anh, deputy director in charge of the Quang Ninh provincial Department of Tourism, said Muslim travelers coming to the province mainly hail from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, India and the Middle East region.

At present, the province has mobilized local firms to invest in infrastructure in order to properly welcome the influx of Muslim tourists over the coming time by arranging a separate zone for them whilst opening restaurants that have chefs who boast Halal certification, she added.

At the event, representatives of several major international travel agencies from India and Vietnam analysed the advantages and limitations of Quang Ninh's tourism products, thereby proposing solutions to attract Muslim tourists moving forward.

Nguyen Trung Khanh, director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), underlined the need to improve the technical infrastructure to meet the demands of Muslim visitors.

He also stressed the importance of training relevant human resources who possess full knowledge of the culture, religion, beliefs, and languages of the Muslim people, while simultaneously preparing tourism products and services and seeking to enhance tourism promotion activities in target markets such as the Middle East and South Asia.

About 140 million Muslim tourists are expected to travel to countries around the world this year, with this rising to about 230 million by 2028, with a total spending of up to US$225 billion.

Currently, only Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi represent the main tourist destinations in terms of welcoming this influx of tourists.

Vietnam International Sourcing 2023 kicks off in Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam International Sourcing 2023 opened with a series of events on September 13 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City.

The three-day event is being co-organised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee with the aim of helping domestic manufacturers and exporters reach global markets by connecting them with foreign distributors and importers.

Covering a total area of 8,000 square metres, the event attracted the participation of 300 businesses from different areas from across the international supply chain. It also received huge interest from leading global companies; including Aeon and Uniqlo of Japan, Walmart, Amazon, Boeing, and AES of the United States, Carrefour and Decathlon of France, Central Group of Thailand, Coppel of Mexico, IKEA of Sweden, and LuLu of the UAE.

On showcase are more than 5,000 export products in fields where the nation boasts strength in, such as food, garments and textiles, footwear, sportswear, household appliances, furniture, and support industries.

Within the framework of the event, a series of activities, including conferences and trade exchange programmes, will also be held.

This year Vietnam International Sourcing 2023 expects to welcome 8,000 visitors and 200 delegations from 30 countries and territories globally.

Source: VNA/SGT/VNS/VOV/Dtinews/SGGP/VGP/Hanoitimes