HCM City export fair opens, seeks to help businesses expand markets

VIETNAM, May 8 - HCM CITY — More than 400 companies are displaying their products at the second Vietnam Outstanding Export Products Fair, or HCM City Export 2024, that opened in HCM City on May 8.

Building on its strong debut last year, the fair has 450 booths, double last year’s number, that showcase the country’s major export industries such as food and beverages, farm and fisheries produce, furniture, handicrafts, textile and garment, footwear, handbags, rubber, plastics, electronics, and supporting services.

Việt Nam's major export firms are in attendance, including Masan Consumer Holdings with the Chinsu brand, Vina T&T Group, Bình Tây Food JSC, VANTRGAP Food JSC, and Phước Hải Leather Box-Handbag Trading Production Co., Ltd.

The fair will also feature a forum titled “Promote linkages towards green exports” that will discuss solutions for sustainable exports.

Business matching programmes to bring together local firms and foreign supermarket and retail chains such as Central Retail, MM Mega Market, Amazon, and Alibaba and buyers from India and Russia will also be held during the fair.

There will be attractive incentives for public visitors. On May 10 and 11 they can visit and shop for Vietnamese export items with discounts of up to 50 per cent, and freely experience many brands.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Nguyễn Văn Dũng, Deputy Chairman of the city People’s Committee, said exports are an important pillar in the city’s economic development.

He quoted the city customs department data as saying exports through local ports in the first four months of 2024 were worth US$12.5 billion, a year-on-year increase of 69.2 per cent.

He attributed the achievement to the efforts made by both businesses and government agencies to seize every export opportunity.

This year would see a breakthrough in promoting industrial production and trade and import and export activities, he said.

“But to sustain export growth, HCM City needs to focus on developing innovative and high-tech industries to increase added value for exports, improving product quality, investing in research and development, and creating favourable conditions for businesses to develop and expand export markets.

“More important is co-operation between businesses and authorities to promote the city's export industry.”

In that context, organisation of the fair and forum is one of the significant activities to help local manufacturing and export firms study market demand and trends and participate in the global production, supply and distribution chains, he added.

Organised by the city Department of Industry and Trade and the Việt Nam Trade Promotion Agency, the fair is expected to attract 20,000 visitors and buyers from major markets such as the US, Europe, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, and Korea, and e-commerce platforms.

On at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in District 7, it will run until May 11. — VNS