As many as 250 businesses from 28 countries and territories, including Viet Nam, are participating in the International Coffee & Tea Industry Expo 2019, which opened in Singapore on Thursday.

The exposition features separate display areas for tea and coffee products; cakes and desserts; foodstuff; and restaurants to provide investment co-operation opportunities for businesses.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Tao Thi Thanh Huong said the event will help promote exports of Vietnamese goods to the market, contributing to balancing bilateral trade.

The expo will also support domestic firms, especially those in the fields of manufacturing and processing farm produce, she added.

At the opening ceremony, the Restaurant Association of Vietnam (RAV) and its partners from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Cambodia signed a co-operation agreement to establish the ASEAN Restaurant Association Alliance.

The signatories pledged to improve the quality of products and services, ensure environmental protection and boost co-operation, according to Chu Hong Minh, a representative from RAV.

Luong Van Tu, chairman of the Vietnam Coffee-Cocoa Association, said Viet Nam is the second biggest coffee producer in the world. Vietnamese coffee has been sold in 80 countries and territories.

The expo will run until Saturday. — VNS