The Viet Nam International Food Industry Exhibition (Vietnam Foodexpo 2016), the most outstanding national trade promotion event specialising in agricultural products, seafood, and the food industry, will be held in HCM City from November 16-19.

The Vietnam Foodexpo 2016 will have 550 booths of over 400 exhibitors from Viet Nam’s 30 cities and provinces and 15 other countries and territories, including Egypt, Poland, Cuba, Italy, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, Hungary, Malaysia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and China.

A wide range of farm produce, seafood products, processed food products, beverages, tea and coffee, food ingredients, food processing technologies and machinery will be displayed at the expo.

Ta Hoang Linh, deputy general director of the Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said the expo, with the theme “Better Food, Better Life”, will contribute to the dynamic development of Việt Nam’s food industry, promoting the brands of enterprises, products and services in the industry and creating favourable conditions to expand the market share of Vietnamese food in both domestic and export markets.

The exhibition will also serve as a catalyst for technological innovation, thereby increasing productivity, quality and safety in production, processing and business associated with agricultural products, food and drinks, he said.

As the “National Honoured Exhibitor” at the Vietnam Foodexpo 2016, 30 Italian companies will introduce Viet Nam to some of their finest products and brands at the expo.

In addition, Italian import delegations will come to the expo to find Vietnamese export partners.

Carlotta Colli, Italian Consul General in HCM City, said the expo would create good opportunities for Vietnamese and Italian firms to enhance co-operation and penetrate each other’s market.

Held at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre, the event will also include the Vietnam Foodtech 2016 featuring modern technologies and machines for the food industry, the international conference on Viet Nam food industry and a seminar on investment promotion in the food processing industry, Saigon international cooking contest and other activities.

Organised by Vietrade, the expo is as part of the Government’s activities to build a brand strategy for Viet Nam's food industry, Linh said.

The expo is expected to welcome more than 20,000 visitors, he said, adding that many local and international trade delegations and potential buyers have registered to visit the expo to seek supply sources. — VNS