HÀ NỘI — As many as 320 firms are exhibiting their products at the 30th Việt Nam International Trade Fair (Việt Nam Expo 2021), which opened at the International Exhibition Centre in Hà Nội on Wednesday.

The four-day event, themed “Việt Nam Expo - Partner with enterprises in the digital age”, witnesses the participation of enterprises from provinces and cities nationwide and those from countries and territories including Cuba, Russia, Germany, Japan, the US, South Korea, Hong Kong and mainland China.

The expo has been hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and organised annually by the Việt Nam National Trade Fair & Advertising Company (Vinexad) over the last two decades, and is recognised as one of the most effective trade events, bringing a lot of economic value for organisations, enterprises and individuals in Việt Nam and overseas.

At the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Đỗ Thắng Hải said the event, first held in 1991, had become one of the most large-scale and important trade promotion activities in national industry and trade, providing practical opportunities for Vietnamese businesses to develop in the domestic market and boost their exports.

"Due to the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, to increase the efficiency of trade promotion for businesses, the trading activities are organised in the form of direct meeting and online meeting via e-commerce platforms such online fair, remote booths for international businesses and e-conference connecting online trade," he said.

At the event, products on display include machinery, equipment, supporting industry products, electrical and electronic products, food and beverages, and farm produce for export.

With the digitised world theme, exhibitors involved in digital transformation can join a priority area, while seminars on digital transformation are also on the agenda.

This is the sixth consecutive year the “Invest in Việt Nam” - Industrial Development and Investment Pavilion has been located in the centre of the trade fair to introduce the strengths and new investment policies of seven key industries from Yên Bái, Nghệ An, Khánh Hoà, An Giang, Đồng Tháp and Vĩnh Long provinces.

“Khánh Hòa Province has participated in Việt Nam Expo for many years, but this year’s fair has special significance as it happens in the context that Việt Nam has effectively contained COVID-19 and we are calling for the return of domestic and foreign investment,” Trần Văn Ngoạn, deputy director of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade told Việt Nam News.

“We wish to introduce to investors the potential and advantages of Khánh Hòa. After participating in the fair, we found that more investors have come to Khánh Hòa, especially large economic groups from the US, South Korea, Japan and the EU.

“For example, Japan-based Sumitomo Corporation has invested in a coal-fired thermoelectric plant in the province, with a total capacity of 1320 MW and a total investment of $2.58 billion and it is likely to be completed in 2023,” Ngoạn said.

On the sideline of the event, the 'VIRTUAL FORUM & B2B' programme, organised by Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore and local trade promotion departments, focuses on introducing industrial investment opportunities in Bắc Ninh, Nghệ An, Yên Bái, Khánh Hoà, Vĩnh Long, Kiên Giang, An Giang and Đồng Tháp provinces. This is a good opportunity for Singaporean investors to learn about Việt Nam's production policies and investment opportunities in these key provinces.

Korea Pavilion

The Korea Pavilion, organised for the 22nd time at the event this year, is another highlight.

More than 50 South Korean exhibitors are showcasing food and beverage products, household appliances, cosmetics, childcare products, medical equipment and industrial machinery. Some 350 Vietnamese enterprises are expected to participate in online exchanges with Korean suppliers via the pavilion.

Over the years, the pavilion has promoted trade between Vietnamese and South Korean businesses, contributing to the strong growth in trade relations between the two countries.

With extensive experience in trade promotion, especially in online trade, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) would help Vietnamese and Korean businesses have more opportunities for deeper and broader co-operation, said Lee Jong Seob, President of KOTRA in Southeast Asia-Oceania cum General Director of KOTRA in Hà Nội. — VNS