HCM CITY – The 14th International Precision Engineering, Machine Tools and Metalworking Exhibition, MTA Việt Nam 2016, opened yesterday in HCM City to showcase the latest technologies and equipment in the industry.

The exhibition at the Sài Gòn Exhibition and Convention Centre has attracted 416 enterprises from 24 countries and territories, including 13 international pavilions from such countries as Germany, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.

BT Tee, deputy chief of the Việt Nam representative office of Singapore Exhibition Services, said South Korea has the largest number of group pavilions - six - and a total of 56 companies, followed by Taiwan with 55 exhibitors at three international group pavilions, Singapore with 28 firms, Japan with 24, Germany with 18 and Thailand with four.

The companies at the Korean pavilions include Đông Á Electronics, Mega Plus Dong Jin, Harex Engineering, Kacon and Widin.

Ko Hyun KIM, head of the Korea International Trade Association’s HCM representative office, said “Korea is one of the major players in the manufacturing industry and thus we have a lot to offer and showcase. We hope our exhibitors will have a productive time at the show and will be able to meet up with potential buyers and generate new business deals.”

On the sidelines of the expo, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council held a seminar where Awea Mechatronic, Hannsa Precision, City Tools and Hosea Precision introduced a range of their technologies and products, like a five-axis machining centre, rotary tables, CNC lathes, machining centres, cutting tools and tooling systems.

Hsu Da Wei, deputy director general of the Taiwanese Ministry of Economics Affairs’ Bureau of Foreign Trade, said the machine tool industry is among the most competitive and developed on the island.

Taiwan and Việt Nam have enjoyed strong and growing economic ties for years, and many Taiwanese manufacturers see Việt Nam as a promising marketplace and are thrilled to participate in MTA Việt Nam to showcase their cutting-edge products, according to Wei.

The expo includes seminars on issues and trends in the local manufacturing industry, including computerised production control systems for industrial manufacturing and Samsung Vendor Qualification programme.

"Samsung is there looking for component suppliers, offering a good opportunity for Vietnamese SMEs," Tee said.

Trần Việt Dũng, deputy director of VCCI Exhibition Services Co Ltd, said the 2016 MTA Việt Nam offers a great opportunity for local businesses to update themselves on technologies, exchange information with foreign firms and seek opportunities.

Organised by the Singapore Exhibition Services Pte Ltd and the VCCI Exhibition Services Co Ltd, the exhibition will run until July 8 and expects to welcome more than 10,000 trade visitors, along with 50 group delegations from major companies in Việt Nam and the region. -VNS