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| A booth introducing Vietnamese products at the expo (Photo: VNA) |
Considered the most successful event in the UK for connecting businesses operating in the hospitality; restaurant services; and wholesale, retail, distribution, and import - export of food, the expo serves as a venue for enterprises to explore new business opportunities, directly meet potential customers, assess demand and consumer trends in the food industry in the UK and international markets.
Vietnam’s booths at the expo attracted visitors with a variety of products including fresh fruit, frozen seafood, dried noodles, different kinds of coffee and tea, and products from cononut and ginger.
Hoang Le Hang, First Secretary at the Vietnamese Trade Office in the UK, said that the UK is a highly promising market for Vietnamese exporters, evidenced by the continuous growth in Vietnamese exports to the UK over the past three years, with projections indicating that this growth trend will persist. She stressed that Vietnamese firms should seize opportunities to take part in expos like IFE to affirm their capability to supply stable, high-quality, environmentally friendly products.
Marina Stewart, International Sales Manager at the IFE’s organising board said for companies looking to penetrate the UK market, IFE is an essential destination as it acts as a crucial link between manufacturers and retailers, distributors, including major UK supermarket chains.
IFE is also the only trade fair where participating businesses cover the entire food supply chain, from raw material production and product manufacturing to packaging and food service, creating opportunities for firms to find partners in every sector of the food industry, she noted.
Stewart expressed her hope that in the future, Vietnamese products will have a stronger presence at IFE, given the increasing demand for Vietnamese goods in the UK, especially products sourced from plants, organic products, and healthy items.
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| Vietnamese beverage products are displayed at the fair (Photo: VNA) |
Nguyen Thi Hanh Huong, CEO of Ben Tre Betrimex said that IFE is an opportunity for her company to access potential customers, including large retail chains in the UK.
Huynh Van Tan, General Director of Camimex - a seafood export company in the Mekong Delta province of Ca Mau said he hopes to receive additional support from the Vietnamese Trade Office in the UK in connecting Canimex in particular and firms in Ca Mau in general with distributors in the UK.
In January, Vietnam’s export turnover to the UK reached nearly 780.5 million USD, up over 57% year-on-year. Most export items experienced stable growth, particularly agricultural products, with coffee increasing by 218.5%, cashew nuts (nearly 61%), pepper (over 60%), fruits and vegetables (over 56%), and seafood (over 26%).
As the largest annual international F&B trade fair in the UK, IFE 2024 attracted nearly 1,000 exhibitors from 102 countries worldwide, along with 27,000 domestic and international business visitors.
Taiwan’s StarLux Airlines launches route to Vietnam’s Phu Quoc
StarLux Airlines of Taiwan (China) will begin operating the first flight from Taipei to Phu Quoc International Airport on Phu Quoc Island from July 1, to mark the launch of a new route between the two destinations, said Radio the Voice of Vietnam.
The carrier will operate five flights per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays, using the Airbus A321neo.
Between July 1 and October 25, the scheduled flight will leave Phu Quoc at 6:55 p.m. and land in Taipei at 11:55 p.m. before then departing from Taipei at 3 p.m. and arriving in Phu Quoc at 5:55 p.m. (local time).
Passengers are now able to book air tickets on official systems GDS and WEB/APP of StarLux Airlines from March 20.
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| Taiwan’s StarLux Airlines will launch a new route to Vietnam’s Phu Quoc from July 1. (Photo: internet) |
Phu Quoc is a major tourist destination dubbed Paradise Pearl Island in southern Vietnam. It is the only locality of Vietnam where no visa is required from Taiwanese visitors. This is an ideal destination to conduct family trips due to its zoo and amusement park.
StarLux Airlines earlier launched flights from China to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang.
In the first two months of this year, Phu Quoc welcomed two million visitors, up 70% year on year, generating VND5.23 trillion in revenue. Of the total, 215,000 were international visitors, representing a year-on-year rise of 105%.
In March, Asian travel website DestinAsian revealed a list of the 10 best islands to visit across Asia, with the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc ranking sixth on the list.
15 billionaires to attend investment promotion conference in Binh Dinh
Fifteen foreign billionaires are set to participate in an investment promotion conference due to take place in the south central province of Binh Dinh on March 29.
The conference is part of the Amazing Binh Dinh Fest 2024 Week which is getting underway from March 22 to 31, according to the provincial Department of Planning and Investment.
The event is expected to bring together some 1,000 delegates, including leading billionaires from the United States, Canada, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Israel, and Europe.
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| An overview of Binh Dinh province (Photo: VOV) |
The gathering will provide a chance for foreign businesses to gain a greater understanding of Vietnam’s investment environment as well as preferential policies.
Some activities will take place, including the signing of a memorandum of understanding on tourism development for 2024 - 2028 between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Binh Dinh province, Vietnam Airlines Corporation, and Binh Dinh F1 Joint Stock Company.
Local authorities will hand over cooperation agreements and investment certificates to a number of investors.
Vietnamese shrimp gains firm foothold in Chinese and US markets
Vietnamese shrimp exports to China and the United States enjoyed strong growth during the opening two months of the year, Radio the Voice of Vietnam quoted the information of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
Specifically, shrimp exports to China and Hong Kong (China) skyrocketed by 143% to more than US$81 million in value against the same period last year.
Ta Thi Kim Thu, a VASEP expert, attributed the rising import demand to the Lunar New Year festival, China’s reduction in shrimp imports from Ecuador, and a higher quality of Vietnamese shrimp.
Meanwhile, Vietnamese shrimp exports to the United States in the reviewed period also soared by 26% to US$72 million.
The average price of Vietnamese shrimp in the US also rebounded after falling to its lowest level in November last year.
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| Vietnamese shrimp gains firm foothold in Chinese and US markets (Photo: VOV) |
VASEP predicted that the sales of fresh and frozen seafood products to the US are forecast to stabilise this year after experiencing a downward trajectory last year amid global high inflation and tightened spending.
Insiders pointed out that compared to major shrimp suppliers in the US such as India, Ecuador, and China, Vietnam can be considered a more promising provider as the recent establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the US have opened up a wealth of opportunities for Vietnamese goods to gain further entry into the demanding market.
Moreover, the US has advocated increasing purchases from other countries whilst moving to reduce reliance on Chinese goods.
Most recently, the 2024 Seafood Expo North America which took place from March 10 to 12 and attracted the participation of a large of number of shrimp exporters worldwide, is expected to provide bright export prospects for Vietnamese shrimp.
According to experts, the shrimp industry is projected to encounter a number of challenges, including epidemics in farmed shrimp and weak demand occurring in several markets. It is therefore required to focus on the farming stage as it strives to increase its competitiveness by creating value-added products./.