ĐẮK LẮK — An international coffee fair themed “Quality Coffee for the Health of the Community” opened on Thursday in the Central Highlands province of Đắk Lắk.

This year’s fair has attracted the participation of 234 businesses with 735 booths displaying mostly coffee and coffee-related products. 

Twelve of the exhibitors are foreign businesses who are displaying products in 58 booths.

Many specialties from different regions in the country with clear origins are also presented.

Also on display are auxiliary products, machinery and equipment for production and processing of coffee as well as an array of consumer goods produced in the Central Highlands region.

Organisers said the fair is an opportunity for businesses, State agencies, scientists and farmers to meet, exchange, and promote trade, investment and transfer technologies.

They also said that the fair, which is of a larger scale compared to previous coffee festivals, would create conditions for manufacturers to promote their business, advertise coffee brands; and attract domestic and foreign tourists to learn about and enjoy coffee products from the Central Highlands region.

At the fair, local and foreign tourists will also enjoy cultural and art performances by ethnic minority communities in the Central Highlands region. 

Bùi Huy Sơn, head of the Trade Promotion Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said the ministry was working closely with Đắk Lắk Province, the Coffee and Cacao Association and businesses to support development of the Vietnamese coffee industry.

Coffee is among Việt Nam’s major products sold in the world market, he said.

Việt Nam has exported 1.2-1.5 million tonnes of coffee each year during the last decade. It ranks second in the world for coffee exports, following Brazil.

Coffee is grown widely in many areas in Đắk Lắk Province, and its capital, Buôn Ma Thuột is renowned for producing coffee of high quality and distinct taste.

Buôn Ma Thuột coffee now benefits from geographical identification, and the Central Highlands region is generally considered the coffee metropolis of Việt Nam.

The fair is part of the Coffee Festival 2017, organised by the Southwestern Region Steering Committee and Đắk Lắk Province’s People’s Committee, which will open tonight in Buôn Ma Thuột City.

The biennial festival, themed “Quintessence Convergence – Identity Promotion – Connecting for Development,” is expected to showcase the region’s economic potential and attract a record number of visitors.

This year, the event will have more activities, including a gong festival and conference on investment promotion for the Central Highlands region. — VNS