Visitors at the MTA Vietnam, which opened in HCM City from July 5 to 8. — VNS Photo Xuan Huong

HCM CITY – The 14^th International Precision Engineering, Machine Tools and Metalworking Exhibition, MTA Vietnam 2016, opened on July 5 in HCM City to showcase the latest technologies and equipment in the industry.

The exhibition at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre has attracted 416 enterprises from 24 countries and territories, including 13 international pavilions from Germany, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand.

BT Tee, deputy chief of the Viet Nam representative office of Singapore Exhibition Services, said South Korea had the largest number of group pavilions -- six -- and a total of 56 companies, followed by Taiwan with 55 exhibitors at three international group pavilions, Singapore with 28 firms, Japan with 24, Germany with 18 and Thailand with four.

The companies at the Korean pavilions include Dong A Electronics, Mega Plus Dong Jin, Harex Engineering, Kacon, and Widin.

Ko Hyun KIM, head of the Korea International Trade Association's HCM representative office, said: "Korea is one of the major players in the manufacturing industry and thus we have a lot to offer and showcase in the exhibition. We hope our exhibitors will have a productive time at the show, and will be able to meet up with potential buyers and generate new business deals."

On the sidelines of the expo, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council held a seminar where Awea Mechatronic, Hannsa Precision, City Tools, and Hosea Precision introduced a range of their technologies and products like 5-axis machining centre, rotary tables, CNC lathes, machining centres, cutting tools and tooling systems, and others.

Hsu Da Wei, deputy director general of the Taiwanese Ministry of Economics Affairs' Bureau of Foreign Trade, said the machine tool industry is among the most competitive and developed on the island.
Taiwan and Việt Nam have enjoyed strong and growing economic ties for years, and many Taiwanese manufacturers see Viet Nam as a promising marketplace and are thrilled to participate in MTA Vietnam to showcase their cutting-edge products and technologies, he said.

There will be many other seminars to discuss issues and trends in the local manufacturing industry, including computerised production control systems for industrial manufacturing and Samsung Vendor Qualification programme.

Samsung is there looking for component suppliers, offering a good opportunity for Vietnamese SMEs, Tee said.

Tran Viet Dung, deputy director of VCCI Exhibition Services Co., Ltd, said the 2016 MTA Vietnam offered a great opportunity for local businesses to update themselves on technologies, exchange information with foreign firms and seek business opportunities.

Organised by the Singapore Exhibition Services Pte Ltd and the VCCI Exhibition Services Co., Ltd, the exhibition will run until July 8 and expects to welcome more than 10,000 trade visitors along with 50 group delegations from major companies in Viet Nam and the region. — VNS