HCM CITY — A diverse selection of goods, including packaged foods, processed items and agricultural products, is being showcased at the B2B and Vietnamese Products Exhibition Week that opened on Thursday at AEON Mall Tân Phú Celadon in HCM City.

Organised by the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre of HCM City and AEON Vietnam Co Ltd, this annual event seeks to strengthen collaboration between AEON Group, one of the world’s largest retail conglomerates, and Vietnamese manufacturers who meet high standards of quality and food safety.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, ITPC Director Trần Phú Lữ said the organising committee had received applications from 215 businesses, and 34 of them met AEON’s stringent evaluation criteria and were selected to exhibit their packaged and processed foods such as tea, coffee, spices, and confectionery; dried agricultural goods; health-focused consumer products; and agricultural produce like rice, vegetables, fruits, and organic items.

“The programme aims to help Vietnamese-branded products reach both domestic and international consumers through AEON’s supermarket chain.

“Additionally, by engaging with AEON’s sourcing teams, businesses can reassess their product quality, gain insights into consumer trends, and refine their production processes. This can lead to the development of new products, enhanced competitiveness, and greater readiness for export to Japan and other demanding markets.”

Kazaoka Takao, chief merchandising officer of AEON Vietnam, said the Việt Nam market is the second most important for AEON after only Japan.

“Over the years AEON Group in both Japan and Việt Nam has consistently promoted Vietnamese products, not just for local consumption but also for export to Japan and other international markets.”

He noted that the Vietnamese Products Exhibition Week at AEON Japan, launched in 2015, has significantly boosted the exports of Vietnamese agricultural items to Japan.

The Vietnamese Products Exhibition Week held annually at AEON Tân Phú since 2018 has demonstrated AEON and ITPC’s commitment to connecting and supporting local suppliers, he added.

At this year’s expo, a business-matching event will be held on December 13, bringing together AEON Vietnam’s merchandising team and more than 150 suppliers offering products ranging from fresh food to household goods and clothing.

AEON will offer the participating businesses consultation on product standards and quality to help them become AEON suppliers.

Lữ expressed optimism about the four-day event, saying, “We hope participating businesses will seize this opportunity to engage with AEON Vietnam’s customers, showcase high-quality and distinctive products and offer competitive pricing.”

Japan remains a vital trade partner for Việt Nam, its fourth largest, with a strong, balanced and sustainable two-way trade relationship.

Bilateral trade between the two countries was worth $33.9 billion in the first nine months of 2024. — VNS