As many as 150 companies from 10 countries are showcasing their products
at the Vietnam International Retail Franchise Show 2013, which
opened in Ho Chi Minh City on October 31.
The
three-day event is jointly held by the Vietnam Trade Fair and
Advertising Company (Vinexad) and the Korea International Trade
Association (KITA), the Korea World Trade Centre (COEX) and the Korea
Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).
On
display at 250 booths are famous domestic trademarks such as Dalat Milk,
Me Trang Coffee, Highlands Coffee, Pho 24, Tous Les Jours and Ong Kim,
together with machines, equipment and new technologies for a modern
retail industry.
Fifty businesses from the
Republic of Korea (RoK) are introducing a variety of high-quality
products, including food, fresh fruit, household utensils, garments,
jewellery and electronic equipment.
Huyn Ho Ahn,
KITA Vice Chairman and CEO, said that Vietnam sees great potential
for developing its retail industry, with a young and dynamic workforce.
This event is expected to provide a great chance for
business communities to seek partners and sign investment contracts,
thus further boosting franchise and retail cooperation between
Vietnamese businesses and foreign investors, particularly those from the
RoK, he said.
To date, 105 foreign companies have
registered to open franchises in Vietnam , mostly in the business of
restaurants, fashion shops and convenience stores.
According to Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Ho Thi Kim Thoa, over
recent years, international franchising has helped promote the
development of this form of business in Vietnam as well as
contributed to creating jobs and increasing incomes.
It may also reduce risks for investors at a time of economic slowdown and limited access to capital, she added.-VNA