HCM City (VNA) – HortEx Vietnam 2018 - the first InternationalExhibition & Conference for Horticultural and Floricultural Production andProcessing Technology in Vietnam, opened at the SaigonExhibition and Convention Center (SECC),Ho Chi Minh City on March 14.

The three-day event aims topromote dialogues between enterprises and policy makers, help participants meetpotential customers and partners and explore the potential of Vietnam - anexciting growth market.

In his opening speech, Nguyen Hong Son Director of the Department ofCrop Production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development,stressed that Vietnam has created crucial breakthroughs in sustainably developingits vegetable and fruit industry.

The country has increased investment in infrastructure for production andprocessing, and formed concentrated goods production areas, he noted, addingthat key products for export and domestic consumption in connection with productionareas have been linked.

Vietnam has paid due attention to developing and applying scientific andtechnological achievements to improve productivity and product quality,especially techniques for crop management, and those to product high-quality flowers,he said.

According to Son, links in agricultural production have been fostered among localities.The country has also built brands and geographical indication for key products such as dragon fruits, litchi,longan, mango and pomelo. Cultivation areas under VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards have been formed. And Vietnam’s exportshave been expanded to choosy markets such the US, Japan, Australia and the EuropeanUnion.

Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports hit 3.51 billion USD in 2017, up 43percent year-on-year, and a record trade surplus of 2 billion USD.

However, Son also mentioned difficulties facing the sector, noting that theapplication of advanced farming techniques, investment for post-harvestpreservation remains limited and the processing industry is developing slowly.

The same day, the Agri Machinery & Tech Vietnam 2018 featuring technologiesand machinery for agricultural production, and the ILDEX Vietnam 2018 displayingproducts related to livestock and animal feedindustry also took place at the SECC.

The events served as bridges connecting domestic and international enterprises operatingin the two fields, allowing foreign firms to seek business and investment opportunitiesin Vietnam and adjacent countries.-VNA