As many as 230 units from 32 countries participated in the 9th International Exhibition on Livestock, Dairy, Meat Processing, and Aquaculture (ILDEX Vietnam)
The 9th International Exhibition on Livestock, Dairy, Meat Processing, and Aquaculture (ILDEX Vietnam) with the theme “Clean Livestock Farming – Green Agriculture – Sustainable Benefits” officially opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center on May 29 and runs until May 31. As many as 230 units from 32 countries participated in the event.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien made his opening speech
In his opening speech at the exhibition, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien stated that in 2023, despite the world facing difficulties and challenges, Vietnam’s agricultural sector has maintained growth and achieved the highest growth rate in recent years.
The overall agricultural GDP growth rate in 2023 reached 3.83% as compared to 2022. Specifically, the livestock sector grew by 5.72% and contributed over 26% to the agricultural GDP.
In the fisheries sector, production reached 9.3 million tons in 2023, a 2.3% increase compared to the previous year.
Regarding the dairy industry, there has been consistent double-digit growth in milk production. Vietnam’s dairy industry has risen to the 11th position in Asia and the 4th position in ASEAN in terms of milk production, domestic production. Nevetherless, it still does not fully meet demand, leading to significant annual imports of milk and dairy products. In 2023 alone, Vietnam imported as much as $ 1.17 billion worth of milk and dairy products.
In his opinion, these achievements are attributed to the open-door policies and efforts to attract both domestic and foreign investment, which have facilitated Vietnam’s rapid access to technology, techniques, and management from developed countries.
Vietnam’s organizations have vigorously transitioned from a “production mindset” to an “agricultural economic mindset” and from single-sector development to cooperation and multi-sectoral development. There has been a drive to promote the integration of multiple values in agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products, transitioning from supply chains to developing industry chains in line with the spirit of the “Three Agriculture” Resolution and the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy.
Igor Palka, CEO of VNU Asia Pacific, stated that ILDEX Vietnam 2024 attracted 230 exhibitors from 32 countries. Among them, 85% of the exhibition area consists of international brands from France, the United States, the EU, the Netherlands, Turkey, Brazil, China, and South Korea.
According to Wiraka Moodhitaporn, Consul General of Thailand in Ho Chi Minh City, for Thailand, food and agriculture are one of the 8 target industries to make Thailand a global industrial hub. Meanwhile, Vietnam is a key player in the global livestock market, ranking 1st in ASEAN and 6th in the world in pork production, with a total output of over 2.7 million tons in 2023.
“This is a great opportunity to combine the strengths of Thailand and Vietnam in agriculture and food, in line with the ‘Three Connects’ strategy proposed by Thailand to strengthen the local economies of both countries through cooperation and collaboration,” said Wiraka Moodhitaporn.Within the sidelines of the exhibition, there are also 15 specialized seminar sessions with over 2,000 registered participants aimed at connecting domestic managers and businesses with international partners for cooperation. They will exchange ideas on livestock management, nutrition, feed, disease prevention and treatment, introduce new technical advancements, access comprehensive solutions for safe and sustainable livestock farming, and share experiences in ensuring animal welfare.
VFM
