VIETNAM – Some 100 business-to-business meetings are tailored during “Lifestyle Trade Mission to Vietnam 2015”, a Vietnam-EU trade promotion program held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from October 27-30. 

The event is jointly organized by the EU-Vietnam Business Network (EVBN) and the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), bringing together enterprises from Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the United Kingdom in the sectors of home décor, furniture, tableware, home appliances, and lighting.

Speaking at the programme’s opening session in Ho Chi Minh City on October 27, David Hodkinson, Design Director of design firm Noor Ho Chi Minh, said the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) are expected to pave the way for more business opportunities for enterprises. Many European firms have been looking for partnerships in Vietnam, the country of more than 90 million people who form a promising market for lifestyle industries, particularly high-end brands, he added.

According to a representative from the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), consumption of high-end home décor and furniture products has experienced a sharp rise over the past few years and those produced in Europe have been especially sought after in high demand largely because of their top-grade designs and quality. Delphine Rousselet, Project Director of EVBN, urged Vietnamese businesses to add more values to their export products.They should also build their own brands with more focus on product research and design, she stated.