A booth at VietnamWood 2019 being held at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in HCM City’s District 7. — VNS Photo Xuân Hương

HCM CITY — The 13th Việt Nam International Woodworking Industry Fair opened in HCM City on Wednesday with over 490 firms from 32 countries and regions taking part.

VietnamWood 2019, 40 per cent larger than last year in terms of display area, is showcasing more than 1,000 woodworking machines and equipment from renowned names in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, China, Germany, Austria, Spain, the US, Việt Nam and other countries.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Nguyễn Quốc Khanh, chairman of the Handicrafts and Wood Industry Association of HCM City (HAWA), said the country’s wood and forestry products exports were worth US$7.08 billion in the first eight months of the year, a year-on-year increase of 18.6 per cent.

“All enterprises in the industry are heading towards a bigger goal of $20 billion in 2025.

“The Government has set a clear direction to make Việt Nam a world leading woodworking production centre. This has helped companies in the sector gain confidence and motivation.”

But the current market situation requires enterprises to resolve internal problems to ensure product quality while increasing productivity and innovation.

“One of the key factors for maintaining sustainable growth … is technology.”

With the advancement of precise production technology by using computer numerical control (CNC), combining new technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing, and robots, woodworking technologies have reached surprising development levels, offering businesses the opportunity to improve quality, control their production process, become less labour-intensive, and increase production, he said.

Judy Wang from Yorkers Trade and Marketing Services Co Ltd, one of the event organisers, said VietnamWood is one of the largest woodworking exhibitions in Southeast Asia.

It helps Vietnamese manufacturers choose suitable machinery and equipment to improve their efficiency, lower production costs, strengthen competitive advantage and boost exports, she said.

Seminars will be held on the sidelines of the exhibition, including on technology transformation and improving productivity.

Organised by the Việt Nam National Trade Fair & Advertising Company (Vinexad), Yorkers Trade & Marketing Service Co, and HAWA, the exhibition, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre, will go on until September 21 and is expected to attract 12,000 visitors.

Printing and electricity exhibitions

The same day, two other international exhibitions, “Vietnam International Electricity, Industrial Machinery and Automation” and “HCM City Printing and Packaging Exhibition 2019”, opened at the Tân Bình Exhibition and Convention Centre in HCM City’s Tân Bình District, and will also run until September 21.

They have attracted more than 150 exhibitors who have put up 200 booths displaying a wide range of machinery, equipment, technologies and products.

Organised by the city Department of Information and Communications and the HCM City Union of Business Associations, the exhibitions are expected to help businesses in the fields access the latest printing technologies and equipment, promote their products and enhance linkages within their industry. — VNS