Over 450 international buyers seek partnerships at Vietnam sourcing event

The Vietnam International Sourcing 2025 (VIS 2025) officially opened on Thursday in Ho Chi Minh City. 

Organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in coordination with the municipal People's Committee, this marks the third edition of the event with a scale 1.5 times larger than last year.

Running through Saturday, VIS 2025 features more than 400 Vietnamese businesses showcasing around 12,000 products across a broad range of sectors. 

Exhibited categories include agriculture, food processing, beverages, textiles, footwear, furniture, home decor, and packaging.

This year's international delegations include representatives from traditional markets such as the United States, the European Union, Japan, and South Korea, as well as emerging regions like the Middle East and Latin America. 

Sixty overseas Vietnamese trade offices are also participating, helping local businesses explore sustainable export markets.

The opening day saw strong turnout and high energy, with a packed schedule of trade promotion events and business networking. 

Alongside product exhibitions and in-hall meetings, VIS 2025 includes thematic seminars, industry panels, and off-site excursions. 

On Saturday, 150 international delegations are scheduled to visit Tay Ninh Province, a neighbor of Ho Chi Minh City, to assess local investment opportunities.

Amid global trade uncertainties and shifting consumer behavior, officials and experts said the event offers Vietnamese companies a crucial chance to strengthen their role in international production networks.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang highlighted Vietnam's recent trade achievements. 

In 2024, Vietnam's total import-export turnover surpassed US$786 billion, with exports alone reaching $405 billion, up 14.3 percent, she said. 

In just the January-July period of 2025, trade value hit nearly $515 billion, a 16.3-percent year-on-year jump.

Thang described the event as more than just a networking opportunity. 

"These three days of connection are not just a meeting place, but the beginning of long-term partnerships," she said.

"They will help Vietnamese enterprises play a deeper role in global supply chains. 

"If we fully utilize platforms like VIS 2025, our export growth target of 12 percent this year is well within reach."

VIS 2025 also features conferences and workshops that foster two-way dialogue between Vietnamese firms and international buyers. 

Local companies gain insights into current market demands and evolving trade policies, while foreign delegations learn more about Vietnam's production capacity, growth strategies, and supply readiness, according to the deputy minister.