Some 300 local and international exhibitors are introducing a wide range of products at the HCM City International Exhibition of Food and Beverages both onsite and online until October 22.

With the theme ‘Interconnection of values and development,’ the expo that opened on October 19 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in District 7 has more than 240 booths showcasing products such as raw and lightly processed and deeply processed foods and foodstuffs, beverages, raw materials used in the food processing industry, and machinery and equipment used for food production, packaging and preservation.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Tran Phu Lu, deputy director of the city Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC), said F&B processing is one of the four key industries prioritised for development.

“The production capacity of the city’s F&B companies is not only sufficient to meet domestic demand but also export to many markets all over the world.”

Speaking about the expo, he said: “It is a prestigious and typical trade promotion event, an ideal place for enterprises in the F&B industry to introduce their products and services to domestic and international consumers.”

Well-known local and foreign culinary artisans and experts will perform with themes like ‘Vietnamese Pho with the quintessence of rice’, ‘Experience the world through Noodles’, ‘Banh mi Culture’, ‘Coffee culture in Viet Nam and all over the world’, and ‘Vietnamese folk cakes-ancient flavour, nostalgia, home taste’.

A number of conferences and B2B business matching activities will also be organised to help enterprises get up to speed on production and consumption trends and promising export markets and find new business partners.

Ly Kim Chi, president of the city Food and Foodstuff Association (FFA), said: “This annual expo helps local F&B businesses take the initiative in developing new products with quality, safety and sufficient competitiveness in domestic and export markets.”

Deputy Chairman of the city People's Committee Bui Xuan Cuong said the city is developing its F&B processing industry with high-quality products meeting international standards.

It would focus on improving the quality of the workforce in the F&B processing industry, building criteria, standards and regulations for food safety, developing new products, and building brands for its products, he said.

The expo is hosted by ITPC, FFA and the C.I.S Vietnam Advertising & Exhibition JSC, and expects around 18,000 visitors this year. — VNS