A booth of a South Korean enterprise at VIETNAM EXPO 2024. — VNS Photo Linh Anh

HÀ NỘI — Setting the stage for global business connections, the 33rd Việt Nam International Trade Fair (VIETNAM EXPO 2024), began in Hà Nội with the participation of more than 480 enterprises from 16 countries and territories.

The four-day event is hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, directed by the Việt Nam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE) and organised by VINEXAD JSC at Hà Nội International Exhibition Center (I.C.E) at 91 Trần Hưng Đạo Street.

With nearly 600 booths, the fair focuses on introducing five main categories: Việt Nam Export and Investment Promotion Pavilions; National Pavilions; Electronics, Machinery, and Supporting Industries; Digital Technology and E-commerce and Food and Beverage.

First established in 1991, VIETNAM EXPO is the longest-running annual trade promotion event in Việt Nam, said Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyễn Hồng Diên.

He added: "Being trusted by local enterprises and international trade promotion organisations as a destination to showcase their products and explore opportunities for business expansion and investment in the Vietnamese market, VIETNAM EXPO has gradually asserted its role and influence over the past 30 years.

Within the framework of the fair, alongside traditional promotional activities, product introductions, trade exchanges, traditional trade promotion methods, this year Việt Nam Expo continues to maintain B2B online trade connections to attract commercial organisations, businesses both domestically and internationally to participate remotely.

"Participating units will post information, images, videos of their businesses on the digital platform and interact directly with visitors not only during the four days of the fair but throughout 365 days of the year.

"This is an effective and practical value-added service for all participants, making Việt Nam Expo 2023 different from other international fairs."

Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyễn Hồng Diên visits a booth at VIETNAM EXPO 2024. — Photo Vinexad

Among the 16 participating countries and territories, there are four major national pavilions from China, India, South Korea and the Russian Federation, which demonstrates the appeal of the Vietnamese market in attracting investment and fostering sustainable foreign trade cooperation.

Following the robust and noticeable progress of the Việt Nam-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023, the India Pavilion, led by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), officially participates in VIETNAM EXPO. This sets the foundation for cooperation and experience exchange between the business communities of both countries in 2024 and beyond.

VIETNAM EXPO 2024 also celebrates the 25th consecutive year chosen as a flagship event to promote economic, commercial, and investment activities by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). This is a bridge to expand bilateral co-operation, especially in 2024 – the second year of implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Việt Nam and South Korea.

In the context of preparing to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Principles of Friendly Relations between Việt nam and the Russian Federation, many leading enterprises from Moscow, who are interested in exploring the Southeast Asian markets in general and seeking opportunities to develop business relationships with Vietnamese partners in particular, are gathering at the expo.

Continuing to affirm its role as Việt Nam’s largest trading partner and the second-largest export market, the China Pavilion with over 100 booths exhibit industrial machinery and equipment from major cities and provinces such as Fujian and Guangdong. To deepen the bilateral cooperation between the two countries, this pavilion is expected to bring more opportunities for technology transfer and offer greater flexibility in investment co-operation.

As well as showing the diversity of exhibiting categories and the quality of exhibitors’ products and services, VIETNAM EXPO 2024 also focuses on creating supply-demand connections through many activities, specialised seminars, and high-level forums with various discussion sessions and topics. — VNS