Nearly 300 leading global distributors and importers from around the world attended the Vietnam International Sourcing Expo 2024 which opened in Ho Chi Minh City on June 6, the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) has reported.

Among major participating brands were Aeon and Uniqlo fromJapan, Walmart, Amazon and Safeway from the US, Falabella (Chile), Carrefour and Decathlon (France), Central Group (Thailand), Lotte (the Republic of Korea), Coppel (Mexico), Miniso (China), IKEA (Sweden), and LuLu (the UAE).

Meanwhile, 600 Vietnamese enterprises are showcasing their export-qualified products at the event, including processed food, garments and textiles, fashion accessories, sportswear and equipment, household goods, home décor, and products of supporting industries.

The event is hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, with its ultimate mission to promote the direct linkages between Vietnamese manufacturing and exporting enterprises with foreign retail distribution networks and importers. 

In her opening speech, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang stressed that the event is aimed at supporting businesses to engage more deeply in the global production and supply chains as well as promoting connections between foreign distributors and importers with domestic manufacturers and exporters.

Vietnam is making strong moves to become a global production hub able to supply various kinds of quality goods at competitive prices for the world, she said, adding as many groups, retailers and wholesalers are pushing ahead with their business diversification strategies, Vietnam is seen as a strategic destination in their global supply chains.

The three-day event features a series of seminars and trade connection activities, engaging experts and industry leaders to provide insights on commodity trends, consumer preferences, and supply chain standards.