HCM CITY — The 2019 Việt Nam International Furniture and Home Accessories Fair to be held in HCM City next week will offer local and foreign companies a chance to network and explore business opportunities.

VIFA-EXPO 2019 has attracted 514 exhibitors, who will put up 2,420 booths, 23 per cent more than last year, Huỳnh Văn Hạnh, permanent deputy chairman of the Handicrafts and Wood Industry Association of HCM City (HAWA), told a press briefing held to introduce the expo in HCM City on Wednesday.

The number of foreign exhibitors this year is much higher than last year, and they are from many countries and territories that have strong wooden industries and supporting industries such as Chinese Taipei, Singapore, the US, Canada, mainland China, France, India, Hongkong (China), Ireland, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Indonesia, Switzerland, and Thailand, he said.

Organised by the city’s Department of Industry and Trade, HAWA and HAWA Corporation, the fair would see the display of a wide range of indoor and outdoor furniture, handicrafts, interior furnishing and accessories, and others, Hạnh said.

He added that over 2,900 visitors from many countries and territories have registered, 12.8 per cent up from last year.

The event will also feature three seminars titled Market Requirements and Opportunities in Europe and the US, Engineered Wood Products in the Furniture Industry, and Applying Lean Manufacturing and Automation to Improve Productivity-Experience Sharing from China.

The Hoa Mai Prizes for a furniture design competition will also be given away at the opening ceremony.

The expo, to be held at the Sài Gòn Exhibition and Convention Centre from March 6 to 9, is expected to attract more than 10,000 local and international visitors.

Last year Việt Nam’s exports of wood and forestry products were worth US$9.38 billion, up 16.8 per cent from the previous year.

The figure was at $982 million in January this year, an increase of 24.6 per cent, HAWA said.

With positive signals coming from the market, many companies have invested in expanding production and improve technology and technical management to improve efficiency and quality, it said.

The sector is on course to achieve the export target of $11 billion set by the Government, it added. — VNS