As many as 80 Vietnamese enterprises are participating in the three-day 18th China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair (CISMEF), which opened in Guangdong Province, China on Tuesday.

The fair attracts around 1,000 firms from 20 countries and territories.

Vietnamese enterprises attend the fair to promote images and typical export products of Vietnam, seek new partners, and connect with international enterprises.

Reaching Guangdong three days ago to prepare for the introduction of Vietnamese durians at the fair, Mai Xuan Thin, director of Ho Chi Minh City-based Red Dragon Co. Ltd., said, “This is the first time I have taken part in a fair in China.

“I have exported durians to Japan and South Korea for 9-10 years. However, to export durians to China and compete [with rivals in this market], I have spent a year preparing and [our company’s] sixth shipping container [of durians] will arrive in China tonight."

He hoped to boost durian exports to build his company’s brand although the firm has many other key products.

Also participating in the fair for the first time, Vietnamese dairy giant Vinamilk introduced Ong Tho condensed milk.

Vinamilk has ventured into the Chinese market since 2019 but it has faced huge challenges triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company returned to CISMEF to continue seeking to expand its markets and increase its revenue in the second half of the year and the following years.

Nguyen Minh The Nguyet, general director of Can Tho-headquartered Westfood Exporting and Processing JSC, which has also joined the fair for the first time, said the company has advantages in owning pineapple cultivation areas in the Mekong Delta region. 

“We introduce products in which we have strengths to seek partners and promote processed fruits to such a large market as China,” Nguyet said.

Other Vietnamese firms, such as Trung Nguyen Group, Quang Ngai Sugar JSC, and Topfood JSC, will also display their products at the fair.

Visiting booths of Vietnamese firms, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai said China resumed the fair after a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19.

“This is an opportunity for small and medium enterprises to access the Chinese market, the largest trade partner of Vietnam," the deputy minister said.

“Vietnamese goods’ quality must be high to conquer this market.”

In the first five months of this year, Vietnam exported US$19.8 billion worth of products to China and spent $42.4 billion on imports from the northern neighbor, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

China remains a potential market for Vietnam’s exports thanks to the close distance, and lower logistics costs and risks compared with other markets.

Like us on Facebook or  follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!