Strengthening cooperation, raising the status of wood processing industry

On August 9, the opening ceremony of Binh Duong International Wood Materials and Machinery Fair (BIFA Wood Vietnam 2023) took place at WTC EXPO Binh Duong International Exhibition Center. The opening ceremony was attended by Nguyen Van Loi, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of Provincial Party Committee, Head of Provincial National Assembly Delegation; Nguyen Quoc Tri, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD); leaders of Binh Duong Provincial People's Committee and representatives of associations, industries, international and domestic enterprises.

Nguyen Van Loi (front row, second from left), member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of Provincial Party Committee, Head of Provincial National Assembly delegation, visits display booths at BIFA Wood Vietnam 2023.

Effective solution

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Quoc Tri said that in 2022, Vietnam's wood and forest product processing industry, with efforts from ministries, branches, and localities, especially enterprises, associations, basically achieved the desired results. The export value of wood products is over $17 billion, up 7.1%, Vietnam is one of the important destinations of international wood products. Vietnam is the second-ranked country in Asia and fifth in the world in terms of exporting wood and wood products.

However, over the first 7 months of 2023, international conflicts, high global inflation accelerated and made some main export markets of Vietnam's wood products continue to tighten spending on non-essential products, including timber and forest products. Export value of wood and forest products in 7 months only reached 7.8 billion USD, down 25.5% over the same period last year. "Binh Duong International Wood Materials and Machinery Fair - BIFA Wood Vietnam 2023 is a testament to the initiative, flexibility, creativity and adaptability of the wood industry and businesses", Deputy Minister Nguyen Quoc Tri emphasized.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Quoc Tri said that with nearly 1,000 booths, gathering 100 businesses in the domestic and international furniture industry ecosystem, BIFA Wood Vietnam 2023 will be a brand promotion channel, create many connections, exchanges and cooperation, become a push in the trade promotion of the wood processing industry. Thereby contributing to regaining growth momentum for wood industry to achieve the export target of $20 billion by 2025.

Vice Chairman of Binh Duong Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van Danh said that the international wood materials and machinery fair has become a prestigious brand, is held annually in Binh Duong. This is an activity that needs to be developed and realized more expansively so that it can promote trade, connection and import export activities on the spot. “Through this fair, I hope domestic and foreign associations and businesses have the opportunity to promote prestigious and quality products; share new advances and breakthroughs in Vietnam wood manufacturing and processing industry, contributing to enhancing technological capacity for this industry and enhancing our competitiveness in the international market”, emphasized Mr. Danh.

To position Binh Duong wood brand

In fact, in recent years, growth in industrial production and export has always been one of Binh Duong's advantages. In 2023, it is expected that export growth rate of the wood industry would be 7 - 9%, equivalent to $18 billion or more. However, the whole industry is also facing many challenges of its ability to penetrate into major markets. Over the first 6 months of 2023, export turnover of the wood industry was estimated at $2.78 billion, down 5.3% over the same period last year, accounting for 18.45% of the province's total export turnover. Despite this decline, the wood industry plays a very important role in the overall development of the provincial industry. Binh Duong has become one of the localities that are considered as the "capital" of the wood industry.

Enterprises display and introduce woodworking machinery at BIFA Wood Vietnam 2023

From the beginning of this year, despite many difficulties, competent branches and levels in the province have stepped up activities to support businesses and facilitate trade to find new markets. Enterprises are constantly improving, applying science and technology, accelerating digital transformation to improve labor productivity, reduce production costs.

Nguyen Hoang Tai, Deputy Director of Trade Promotion Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), affirmed that with the brand name that has been positioned, BIFA Wood Vietnam 2023 has been organized very carefully, will create favorable conditions for wood processing enterprises to choose technology, raw materials, connect, exchange and cooperate. “With abilities of Trade Promotion Agency, we will connect with markets, especially big markets like Europe and the US. However, these are fastidious markets with strict requirements on green and sustainable criteria. Enterprises must pay great attention to maintaining and developing the brand name of Binh Duong wood industry in particular and Vietnam in general," noted Mr. Tai.

BIFA Wood Vietnam 2023 displays and introduces product technologies in three main areas, including machinery and industrial equipment for wood processing from Italy, China, Hong Kong (China), Taiwan (China)... In addition, the fair also displays accessories and spare parts of the wood industry, wood processing of enterprises from the Americas, Europe, and imported wood materials of domestic enterprises. Along with that is the presence of wood manufacturing and processing enterprises from Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The fair takes place from August 9 to 1. Within the fair framework, there will be visits to wood processing and manufacturing factories in Binh Duong, seminars on markets, trade promotion, capital....

Reported by Tieu My - Translated by Ngoc Huynh