Tiếng ViệtVietnam’s wood processing and export industry has advantages in production but has not yet mastered the market. It is time for businesses and associations to cooperate in implementing a series of trade promotion programs, promoting the image of the wood industry with a large scale, commensurate with production and supply capacity to attract long-term customers.
This is the opinion of experts at the press conference to provide information about the Ho Chi Minh City Furniture and Furniture Export Fair (HawaExpo 2023) organized by Viforest Fair (an association between the Vietnam Timber and Forest Products Association). Nam and local wood associations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Binh Dinh) held in Ho Chi Minh City, on the afternoon of February 9.
Mr. Do Xuan Lap, Chairman of the Vietnam Timber and Forest Products Association, said that for many years in a row, Vietnam’s wood processing and export industry has achieved high growth at double digits per year thanks to the rapid increase of the processing industry. world market size and attraction from production capacity, especially products requiring high skills. However, because of that advantage, most businesses in the industry only focus on production and build many large factories, but lack interest in trade promotion and close connections with markets. This weakness makes Vietnamese wood enterprises passive when market demand declines, as evidenced from the second half of 2022 until now, when inflation spread and export orders of Vietnamese enterprises dropped sharply, in while other FDI enterprises in the industry are still producing. Therefore, in order to develop sustainably, businesses and associations must link and properly invest in trade promotion, image promotion, information update, and supply capacity to international customers.
Sharing the same view, Mr. Le Hoang Tai, Deputy Director of the Trade Promotion Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that 2022 is a very difficult year for Vietnam’s trade activities in general and the export of the wood industry in particular. Entering 2023, although the situation has improved, but wood industry enterprises will continue to face challenges and unpredictability due to uncertainties in the world, strategic competition between major countries will continue. continued, economic recession, high inflation in many countries.
In order to support the wood industry to promote its strengths and potential and maintain its growth momentum, the Trade Promotion Agency recommends that associations and businesses coordinate with ministries, branches, central authorities and Localities prioritize the implementation of trade promotion activities for wood industry enterprises such as organizing specialized fairs and exhibitions in Vietnam, aiming at international scale and standards to improve the position of the wood processing industry. Vietnamese wood has become a dynamic center, a growth engine of the industry in the region.
Simultaneously, selecting and organizing a Vietnamese national pavilion at prestigious international trade fairs, exhibitions, and trade promotion events specializing in wooden furniture, handicrafts and forest products key markets, potential markets such as the US, EU, Russia, Japan, Korea, China, Canada… for wood industry enterprises to participate.
According to Mr. Le Hoang Tai, internally, industry associations need to build a foundation and improve trade promotion capacity in terms of product design and development; market research skills to grasp consumer tastes, requirements and standards of importing countries. Since then, enterprises have production and business plans, contributing to improving the competitiveness of products and goods to meet the needs and tastes of consumers; at the same time, gradually building a national brand for Vietnamese wood and forest products.
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Khanh, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Handicraft and Wood Processing Association, informed that to start the series of activities to promote the wood and furniture industry in 2023, the Vietnam Wood and Forest Products Association (VIFOREST) ) and furniture industry associations in localities with strengths such as Ho Chi Minh City (HAWA), Binh Duong (BIFA), Dong Nai (DOWA), Binh Dinh (FPA) have joined forces to organize HawaExpo 2023, The event will take place from February 22-25 in Ho Chi Minh City. This is the most important highlight for the industry-wide cooperation in trade promotion, which is expected by businesses to bring positive effects to attract customers to visit, trade cooperation and investment. .
According to Mr. Nguyen Quoc Khanh, HawaExpo 2023 has an expected scale of up to 1,600 booths, gathering the large participation of major Vietnamese export manufacturers such as AA Corporation, Interwood, Lam Viet, An Cuong, Scansia Pacific… The promotion of the fair has been carried out to over 20 countries and territories through communication channels, the overseas Vietnamese trading system and the support of import partners. Up to now, HawaExpo 2023 has received nearly 1,000 visit registrations from customers in traditional export markets such as the US and Europe, to new customers such as the Middle East, India…
“In addition to displaying and introducing products, HawaExpo 2023 also focuses on trade connection activities, factory visits and many seminars to help businesses and partners have the opportunity to learn market information. It can be said that HawaExpo 2023 is a fair showing the diversification and strength of local manufacturing industries.The event is also a voice affirming determination. and affirms the ability to break out of the processing model and join higher segments in the value chain that Vietnam’s wood processing industry pursues,” added Mr. Nguyen Quoc Khanh.
