Delegates cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony of the VIFA EXPO 2014 at the Sai Gon Convention and Exhibition Centre.

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — A wide range of indoor and outdoor furniture, handicrafts, equipment and tools for wood processing are on display at the VIFA EXPO 2014 that opened on March 11 in HCM City.

The seventh Viet Nam International Furniture and Home Accessories Fair features 640 booths representing over 140 local and international exhibitors from 10 countries and territories, including Belgium, Denmark, Australia, China, South Korea and Japan.

The fair, which combines two annual wooden furniture fairs, VIFA and EXPO, also includes two seminars, one on the latest safety regulations and standards for wood products exported to the US, and the other on solutions to develop the domestic furniture design industry.

Visitors look at products at the fair — VNS Photos Xuan Huong

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Nguyen Thi Hong, deputy chairwoman of the HCM City People's Committee, said despite economic difficulties worldwide, Viet Nam's wooden furniture industry achieved US$5.56 billion from exports last year, a year-on-year increase of 19.2 per cent.

VIFA EXPO 2014 is an opportunity for trade promotion, bringing local and international enterprises together for more trade cooperation and exchange, she said.

"The fair will also provide businesses an opportunity to access latest wood processing technology as well as receive feedback and ideas from consumers, distributors and buyers so they can meet market demand better," she added.

Besides making efforts to expand export markets, she said "domestic wood processing firms should focus on promoting their products in the domestic market."

It is organised by the HCM City Department of Industry and Trade, the Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of HCM City (Hawa) and Hawa Corporation. It will end on March 14 at the Sai Gon Convention and Exhibition Centre. – VNS