Vietnam to host over 300 sourcing delegations from 60 countries next month

Jointly organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, the event is held in conjunction with the International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City 2025.

It aims to facilitate business-to-business (B2B) connections between Vietnamese enterprises and major global distributors and purchasing delegations.

As part of the Vietnam International Sourcing, international buyers will be introduced to over 12,000 products across four main categories, displayed at 500 booths by more than 400 Vietnamese businesses.

Thousands of direct B2B meetings between Vietnamese suppliers and international buyers and distributors are expected to take place.

At the seminar titled 'Vietnam International Sourcing – Diversifying Export Markets,' held on Friday by the Ministry of Industry and Trade as part of the overall event, Ta Hoang Linh, director general of the European-American Market Department, highlighted that in addition to traditional markets such as the U.S., the EU, Japan, and South Korea, Vietnamese businesses can find strong potential in regions such as the Middle East, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and South Asia.

“Relying solely on a few traditional markets presents risks. Diversifying export markets is now an urgent necessity,” Linh added.

According to him, geographic diversification presents an opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to make full use of the 17 free trade agreements Vietnam has signed, enabling access to new markets, reducing dependency on specific regions, and expanding strategic vision in export activities.

However, many businesses acknowledged that market diversification comes with challenges related to costs, supply chains, and sourcing materials.

Nguyen Xuan Linh, COO of SCAVI Group, a global outsourcing company headquartered in France, pointed out that if Vietnamese enterprises rely only on low prices, their growth will not be sustainable.

He stressed the need to create distinctive value and ensure supply chain transparency for international buyers.

Massimiliano Garzoni, chief operating officer for Asia (Hong Kong) at Giorgio Armani, a luxury Italian fashion brand, acknowledged that Vietnamese products have gained international recognition for quality, but the country still faces limitations in domestic raw material production.

He emphasized that attracting investment to support production activities will help reduce production time, ensure supply chain control, and increase profitability.

From the distribution perspective, Paul Le, vice-president of Central Retail Vietnam, an arm of Thai retail conglomerate Central Group, noted that the group has helped dozens of Vietnamese businesses introduce their products across Thailand and the region.

He said that developing export brands for international supermarket chains requires not only high product quality but also strong brand identity, professional packaging, and clear brand storytelling.

Chandler So, director of French-invested logistics firm GEODIS Vietnam, recommended developing a smart logistics system and integrating digital technologies such as IoT and AI to optimize export services.

He cited the use of GPS and smart sensors to detect risks early, adjust operations promptly, and meet customer demands without delays or disruptions.

At the seminar, many businesses expressed hope that an exhibition of the Vietnam International Sourcing would offer opportunities for Vietnamese companies and international buyers to connect and collaborate across various sectors, from agricultural products, beverages, and processed food to consumer industrial goods such as textiles, footwear, furniture, packaging, and supporting industries.