Here it is! The photo report of the seventh edition of HortEx Vietnam. Held in Ho Chi Minh City, this year's event was co-located with Agritechnica Asia, bringing together around 200 exhibitors. Our reporter was there to capture the highlights in an extensive photo report.
Click here for the photo report.
A growing economy
Vietnam is a huge emerging market with a population of 100 million. Vietnam has been securing socio-political stability, and is known to be one of the most dynamic economies worldwide. Since 1991 the economic growth has averaged 7.5% each year. Vietnam is now in a period of golden population structure, with 60% of its population being at working age. Furthermore, the country is a market economy, a member of the WTO, and a party to multiple frameworks for international economic integration, including free trade agreements with partners both within and outside the region. In addition, Vietnam is among nine nations in the world with the fastest growing middle-class in the coming decade. By 2030 Vietnam is expected to add 36 million people to its middle class. With these figures Vietnam is by far the fastest growing economy in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region.
Horticulture in Vietnam
Horticulture and floriculture are one of the most promising sectors of the Vietnamese economy. Despite facing various challenges in recent years, Vietnam's horticulture and agriculture sectors achieved a record export value of $62 billion last year, marking a 3.2% increase. Although automation is still in its early stages, demand for it is steadily rising. While low labor costs make manual labor attractive, automation is becoming essential, particularly in quality selection, where human errors can lead to significant financial losses. Automated systems offer greater consistency, prompting increased investment in these technologies. There is also a growing demand for efficient irrigation solutions. Interestingly, vegetable cultivation and exports are increasing more rapidly than flower and ornamental plant production. Also, the average age of growers in Vietnam is 55, a figure the industry hopes to lower in the coming years.
HortEx Vietnam and Agritechnica Asia
HortEx Vietnam is a key B2B event dedicated to the horticulture sector. Since its launch in 2018, the fair has seen significant growth, attracting both national and international visitors. This year, the event was co-located with Agritechnica Asia, a spin-off of the renowned Agritechnica show in Germany. This collaboration has created valuable synergies in agricultural machinery and crop cultivation, offering visitors a more comprehensive view of the technologies available.
By bringing these two trade fairs together under one roof, the event provided a platform for exhibitors and visitors to expand their networks and explore business opportunities throughout the Asian region. The exhibition not only attracted visitors from Vietnam but also from across the broader region and even globally. The overall atmosphere was positive, and both exhibitors and attendees looked back on a successful edition.
Kuno Jacobs.
The fair will alternate between Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok in future years. "In recent years, the share of international visitors has steadily increased. By alternating between Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok, exhibitors gain better opportunities to serve not only the Vietnamese market but the entire Asian region. Additionally, visitors benefit from a more efficient overview of the available technologies," said Kuno Jacobs, Nova Exhibitions who organizes the exhibition together with VEAS. "The new format fosters cross-sector synergies, including horticulture and floriculture."
Next year, both exhibitions will take place in Bangkok, Thailand.