Vietnam with its high GDP growth in the past 10 years as well as its close trade and development cooperation with economic powerhouses China and Thailand, has become one of Asia’s most attractive destinations for investment.

One main driver for growth is the country’s key involvement in the six-nation Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) programme comprising Vietnam, China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Burma.

The six countries have already launched 119 projects in various industries, including tourism, the environment, human resources and agriculture. Even more significant is the infusion of an expected US$1 billion in project funding from the Asian Development Bank, the initiator of the cooperation programme.

Reflecting the region’s economic optimism is the Food&HotelVietnam2005 exhibition to be held from Dec 1-3, 2005 at the Ho Chi Minh International Exhibition And Convention Centre (HIECC).

Jointly organised by VCCI Exhibition Service and Singapore Exhibition Services, the exhibition features six country/ regional groups from Australia, France, Germany, Singapore, Taiwan and U.S.A.

The event is also supported by the Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Trade, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

The inaugural Food&HotelVietnam show last year in Ho Chi Minh City was a resounding success, drawing 212 exhibiting companies from 28 countries and over 7,000 trade visitors.

Commenting on the 2004 show, Mr Hoang Trung Hai, Minister of Industry said the event was a professional forum for Vietnamese enterprises to keep abreast with new technologies and advanced business skills. These, in turn, brought practical interests to Vietnam’s food processing enterprises and contributed to the economy and the growth of the Vietnamese industry, said Mr Hoang.

Exhibitors were similarly pleased with last year’s show, including Ms Le Thi Hoai Acting Sales Manager of Hayen Industrial – one of Vietnam’s top distributors of kitchen equipment. She said, “The exhibition was very good and we met a lot of hoteliers and restaurateurs who are our target buyers. Our booth garnered a lot of attention as we showcased unique equipment models that no other company has. Many customers whom we met through the exhibition gave us their specifications and asked us for quotations onsite.”

“We were very pleased with the exhibition as the quality of visitors was very high,” added Mr Eric Choon, ASEAN Director of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). He said, “There is a large untapped market for our products in Vietnam. We have successfully built a strong awareness and recognition of our products through Food&HotelVietnam2004 and will definitely be back this year.”

For this year’s show, exhibits are broadly grouped under food & drink, and hospitality equipment & supplies.

The food and drink category includes a wide and diverse range, covering drinks and beverages, wines, spirits and beer, chilled and frozen food, confectionery, snacks and ice cream, dairy products, fresh produce, seafood, as well as processed and convenience foods.

California-based Sea & Farmfresh, for instance, will showcase its house brand, “Supreme American Chef” that covers all types of salad dressing, mayonnaise, vegetables oils, shortening, sauces, margarine, butter, canned seafood, and IQF (individual quick frozen) vegetables and fruit.

Hanoi-based Echo Vietnam, a food importer and distributor, will exhibit its European range of chocolates and other sweet stuff, as well as Japanese rice crackers, Spanish olive oil and Thai fruit juice.

Another food manufacturer ConAgra Specialty Potato Products will show its Lamb Weston brand foodservice and retail potato products. The company also offers an efficient distribution system and strong marketing support.

On the hospitality equipment and supplies side, exhibitors will be showcasing bakery and confectionery equipment, bar & café supplies, cleaning equipment, furnishing, display and shopfitting services, energy management and control systems, packaging equipment, furniture, tableware and accessories, and technologies for retail, hospitality and food distribution.

Singapore-based Neocon Hotel Supplies, for instance, which offers turnkey supplies of hotel and restaurant equipment, will be exhibiting the Rosenthal Hotel & Restaurant’s “Free Spirit” collection of fine dinning tableware where food is served more as objet d’art than just plain grub.

For professional catering and large dinner events, German-based Convotherm will show its Combi Steamers, plated banqueting trolleys and other catering and kitchen products.

Ms Ting Siew Mui, senior project manager (lifestyle events) with co-organiser Singapore Exhibition Services, said, “Food&HotelVietnam is a comprehensive and timely platform for Vietnam’s hoteliers and restaurateurs to access an international variety of quality products and equipment to meet Vietnam’s rising food and hospitality market.”