Preparing to hold Fruit Festival in China

On the morning of August 29, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development met with the Ministry of Industry and Trade about festival organization, with the participation of leaders of the two Ministries, along with the Vietnamese Embassy in China, the Vietnam Fruits and Vegetables Association, and localities and businesses with large fruit exports to China.

The festival is held on the occasion of the Vietnam-China Intergovernmental Committee session taking place in Beijing on September 29-30. This is the first event, serving as a basis for organizing the festival more frequently in order to methodically connect Vietnamese fruits to the Chinese market.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Truong Thanh Hoai said that the festival is an opportunity for Vietnam's key fruits to be promoted in the city of 20 million people, as well as penetrate deeply into the Northern region of China, which has been left open in recent times.

Besides fresh tubers and fruits, the festival plans to introduce a number of products made from tubers and fruits that have been licensed to be imported into China.

"In addition to promoting the brand and image of Vietnam, this is an opportunity for domestic businesses to directly learn about market needs, meet, work, and create sustainable relationships with potential import partners in China," Mr. Hoai said.

Vietnam is assessed as a great fruit exporting nation, with fruit and vegetable turnover expected to reach USD 7 billion in 2024. Some products are especially favored by the Chinese market, such as durian, banana, and longan.

However, in reality, in recent years, Vietnamese fruits and vegetables in general have only been accessed mainly in the Southern provinces of China, such as Guangxi and Yunnan. In order to further increase the industry's value, management agencies wish to bring Vietnamese fruits and vegetables to a larger number of Chinese consumers, helping them to be able to experience the quality and unique taste of Vietnamese fruits.

Mr. Vu Ba Phu, Director of the Trade Promotion Agency (Ministry of Industry and Trade), plans to have about 30 Vietnamese businesses participating in displaying, introducing, and serving product experiences during the festival within an area of about 500 m². In addition to the display area, the Trade Promotion Agency is advising on the arrangement of the business trade area.

Mr. Phu also mentioned three options for organizing the festival: at the Tan Phat Dia Agricultural Products Distribution Center in Phong Dai district (about 20 km from the Vietnamese Embassy headquarters in Beijing); at a commercial center; or at an entertainment area near the place where the Intergovernmental Committee meeting is held.

In the immediate future, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will focus on arranging the location and organization license, setting up festival areas, as well as disseminating, promoting, and inviting guests to attend. Along with that, there will be a trade program within the festival framework.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade will direct the Vietnam Trade Office in China to support location selection, as well as logistics, and invite China's agencies, organizations, and large fruit importing businesses to visit and exchange.

According to Mr. Le Thanh Hoa, Deputy Director of the National Agro-Forestry-Fishery Quality, Processing and Market Development Authority (NAFIQPM, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), recently, Chinese partners often expressed their wish to work and cooperate with these organizations related to the State of Vietnam in order to limit market and price risks.

Therefore, the organization of the festival, with the participation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will certainly be widely welcomed by Chinese associations, businesses, and major focal points.

Concluding the session, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan considered the upcoming festival as "bringing Vietnamese fruits to central urban areas in China." He assessed that the event will bring image and brand to the country.

"The Chinese market does not just have 1.4 billion people but much more than that because of the large number of overseas Chinese living abroad. Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will actively coordinate with the Vietnam Fruits and Vegetables Association to mobilize businesses to participate in exhibiting at the festival, as well as coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade in the organizational work," the Minister emphasized.

According to the commander of the agricultural sector, the festival next month is an opportunity for businesses to go together and work together. This consensus, if methodically organized, will create a big reputation in the Chinese market. The unique four-season flavors of Vietnamese fruits will be widely spread in China's major urban centers.

He also agreed that it is essential to urgently organize a delegation to go first to Beijing as soon as possible. In addition, increase information and dissemination for businesses and people to know about the event.

Chairman of the Vietnam Fruits and Vegetables Association Nguyen Thanh Binh said that member businesses will be invited to actively participate in the preparation process, as well as attend and trade at the Fruit Festival in China.