More than 30 Vietnamese agricultural businesses are running fruit and spice stalls as part of a Viet Nam farm produce week starting on Tuesday at the Rungis International Market in Paris.

It took the Ministries of Industry and Trade, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Ha Noi Promotion Agency one year of preparation for the event to take place, marking the first large-scale introduction of Vietnamese agricultural products to French importers.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event, Stephane Layani, President and Director General of the Rungis International Market, praised the quality of Vietnamese farm produce, particularly lychees, dragon fruit and coconuts.

He said he believes the products will be a hit in France, Europe and other parts of the world.

Viet Nam is considered an agricultural power but it lacks a large wholesale market to distribute products, he said, noting that Rungis is a trustworthy location for Vietnamese farm produce to reach European consumers.

Layani said Rungis is willing to work with Hanoi to build a wholesale market meeting European standards.

Chairman of the Ha Noi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung said the model of the Rungis market, which spans over 230ha, records 9 billion euros (US$10.5 billion) in annual revenue and offers top quality farm produce, can be applied in Viet Nam, particularly Ha Noi.

He stated Ha Noi wants to work with Semmaris, the company that manages the Rungis International Market, to study the feasibility of investing in a wholesale market in the city following the Rungis model. — VNS