The 22nd VietFood, Beverage and Professional Packaging Machines International Exhibition opened in HCM City on Wednesday.

More than 550 companies from 20 countries and territories are showcasing their products and technologies in the food and beverages, machinery and equipment, packaging and food preservation, and franchising sectors.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Pham Thanh Kien, director of the city Department of Industry and Trade, said the rapidly growing demand for food and beverages means there is huge potential for the sector to grow.

Food and foodstuff processing is one of four major industries that the city has focused on developing, he said.

The city is offering various incentives to enterprises in the food and beverages sector to instal automatic production lines and adopt advanced technologies so that they can make quality products at reasonable prices, he said.

The four-day expo, which is expected to receive 22,000 trade visitors, is a great opportunity for local and foreign enterprises to expand their business and acquire technologies, he added.

The event, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in District 7, is organised by the Vietnam National Trade Fair and Advertising Company together with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Food Standards Committee. — VNS