Sydney (VNA) – Vietnam has made a bold impression at Sydney Build Expo 2025 with its largest and most diverse presence to date, showcasing over 30 leading companies in construction and building materials.

The “Ho Chi Minh City Pavilion” was organised by the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre of Ho Chi Minh City (ITPC), in coordination with the Consulate General of Vietnam in Sydney and the Vietnam Trade Office in Australia. Participating businesses are members of the Saigon Construction & Building Material Association (SACA) and representatives of the Ho Chi Minh Association of Mechanical-Electrical Enterprises (HAMEE).

Sydney Build Expo is Australia’s largest annual construction and design trade show, backed by the Mayor of Sydney and Premier of New South Wales. The expo offers a valuable platform for Vietnamese firms to explore market trends, connect with distributors and contractors, and promote their products on the global stage.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on May 7, Consul General Nguyen Thanh Tung highlighted Vietnam’s rising exports to Australia – steel up 61% and electric cables up 53% in Q1 2025 – as evidence of growing trade ties. He praised the coordinated effort to bring a major national presence to the show.

Nguyen Phu Hoa, head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Australia, stressed the long-term goal of integrating Vietnamese companies into Australia’s construction supply chain. He noted continued support after the expo to help businesses connect with local projects, investment funds, and logistics networks.

ITPC Deputy Director Dao Minh Chanh called the expo a major opportunity for Vietnamese firms to access a fast-growing, high-demand market, especially as Vietnam–Australia relations deepen under a new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Corporate representatives shared optimism about Australia’s potential. Nguyen Kinh Luan, Deputy General Director at Hoa Binh Construction Group, pointed out the labour shortage in Australia's construction sector, positioning Vietnam as a reliable supplier of quality materials.

Visitors expressed strong interest. Jonathan Linnane from Wollongong City Council said he was impressed by the creative design of Vietnamese tiles. El’lena Manning and Carmen Bawelkiewicz praised the innovation and quality on display, with hopes Vietnamese products will soon enter the Australian market.

Vietnamese companies also joined a side seminar on eco-innovation and market entry strategies. Deputy Ambassador Nghiem Xuan Hoa highlighted Australia’s 10 billion AUD (6.5 billion USD) housing initiative and its 2 billion AUD green aluminium plan as key opportunities for Vietnamese firms, whose capabilities continue to improve.

He reaffirmed the commitment of Vietnamese diplomatic missions in Australia to supporting bilateral business partnerships in construction and related industries./.