Ho Chi Minh City, 11 October 2017 – Today marked the opening ceremony of the long awaited “Metalex Vietnam 2018” at Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC). This 12th edition will bring Vietnam manufacturing market a comprehensive platform to connect exhibitors and visitors, continued from 11 – 13 October. Along with “Metalex Vietnam 2018”, there are many compelling co-located exhibitions, such as “Nepcon Vietnam 2018”, and “Supporting Industry Show 2018” co-organized by JETRO and Reed Tradex.
Industry 4.0 is bringing both golden opportunities and huge challenges to developing countries in general and Vietnam is no exception. Giving a speech at the opening ceremony of Metalex Vietnam 2018 this morning, Mr. Isara Burintramart – Managing Director of the organizer Reed Tradex, shared his perspectives on manufacturing potential in Vietnam, “The supporting and manufacturing industries have high potential in Vietnam; strong economic growth in 2017 was driven by a humming manufacturing sector backed by a steady FDIs inflows and technology investment. With support from the public and private sectors, the Vietnamese manufacturers have gained high productivity and knowledge to produce more with less and keeping track of trends. However, the ASEAN market is expanding, demands for high-precision parts are growing and higher standards are being implemented, which I believe is vital for further growth.”
Mr. Isara added more “Over the past decades, METALEX Vietnam and NEPCON Vietnam have become an ideal platforms for industrialists to catch up with the ever-evolving innovations and knowledge in the field of metalworking and electronics. This year’s METALEX Vietnam will set the stage for 10,000 buyers to source the latest machine tools and metalworking solutions from 500 brands from 25 countries. Meanwhile, wide range of technological advancements in electronics manufacturing are represented in NEPCON Vietnam 2018. Electronics manufacturers will discover new SMT and machinery to ensure their quality electronics parts is on parity with global standards.”
From 11 – 13 October, the powerful combination of three shows, “Metalex Vietnam 2018”, “Nepcon Vietnam 2018” and “Supporting Industry Show 2018” co-organized by Japan External Trade Organization Ho Chi Minh City will showcase advanced metalworking solutions, latest electronics assembly technologies and high quality industrial grade parts.
Opening Ceremony of 3 Mega Exhibitions
At the opening ceremony, Mme. Ureerat Ratanaprukse, Consul-General of Thailand, The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City shared valuable information about long-term bilateral trade relation between Vietnam and Thailand which demonstrates Thailand is one of the most important investors in Vietnam: “As Thailand and Vietnam are close neighbors and we have been forging a strong bilateral relation in terms of diplomatic and trade for over four decades, many business successes and economic growth could be achieved because of productive collaboration between the two countries. Cultural similarity, political stability, strategic locations, and high-energy workforce of Vietnam have been attracting a high volume of investments from Thai enterprises so much so that it made Thailand become the tenth-largest investor in the country. Plus, the investment rate is still continuously growing and it is estimated that two-way trade will be in the realm of US$20 billion by 2020.”
Mme. Ureerat Ratanaprukse also said “Trade exhibition is a vital mechanism to leverage industries to a new frontier of manufacturing advancement. The events like “METALEX Vietnam” and “NEPCON Vietnam” will be a place where manufacturers, engineers, and industrialists can enhance their capabilities through technology showcases, fulfill industrialists with unprecedented knowledge, ideas, and inspiration to generate new strategies through thought-provoking seminars, and to help forge new partnerships through business matching.”
During the opening ceremony, we are not only informed the bilateral trade relation between Vietnam and Thailand, but also the importance of Vietnam – Japan cooperative strategy. Mr. Takimoto, the chief representative of JETRO Ho Chi Minh cited many positive figures about that: “Nowadays, there are nearly 2,500 Japanese companies in Vietnam, and more than half of them are manufacturing industries. However, unfortunately, most of them import parts and materials from Japan or China to assemble them in Vietnam, and export finished products to overseas again. This is because they have difficulties in finding ideal suppliers in Vietnam. As a matter of fact, the local procurement rate of Japanese companies in Vietnam was only 33%, according to our own survey in 2017.”
Furthermore, Mr. Takimoto added “At our Supporting Industry Show, the exhibitors are not only Vietnamese supplier that want to sell but also Japanese buyers that want to buy. This is the significant feature of this exhibition. As buyer, there are 29 Japanese manufactures, and 18 of them are name-brand manufactures. During the exhibition, the Japanese buyers show products and parts that they want to purchase. So we hope many visitors can find out what buyers want and what they can provide.”
In addition to the view of Mr. Isara about the potential of Vietnam manufacturing market as previously mentioned above, Mr. Nguyen Phuong Dong, Vice Director, Department of Industry and Trade (DOIT) shared: “In Vietnam, I can say that this is a time of abundance and prosperity because several factors are working in our favor, be it government support, infrastructure, interests from investors the world over. The opportunities are rising for industrialists to raise the bar of productivity and product value to meet international standards and expectations that prospective investors, business partners, and customers may bring in the era of Industry 4.0.”
In Industry 4.0 Era, industrialists ought to concern about the importance of changing the methods of manufacturing and service businesses to align with the digital economy, while technological solutions should be changed instead of remaining focused on traditional technologies. Hence, the market is in demand of a playground which enables people to reach breakthrough technologies, as well as seek for the right partners at the right place.
Mr. Nguyen Phuong Dong appreciated the efforts of Reed Tradex in terms of creating a comprehensive platform for Vietnam manufacturers keeping in track quickly with Industry 4.0. “The trade exhibition will be another factor to provide you a support, a solution to make you get to where you should be. As the one of the co-organizers of the shows, we are delighted to see your growth through the 2018 edition of “METALEX Vietnam” and NEPCON Vietnam”, that will deliver many growth drivers such as technologies, knowledge, and networks for all manufacturers, engineers, and industrialists to take full advantage of. Manufacturers and potential buyers will be matched. Technologies, knowledge, and ideas will be discovered. Moreover, various content, activities, and education program will inspire and enhance knowledge and industry networks for all participants.”
Visitors at Metalex Vietnam 2018
As an annual exhibition, “Metalex Vietnam” never ceases to refresh itself in order to bring new experience to exhibitors and visitors per each time. This year, “Metalex Vietnam 2018” promises a magnificent experience in technology and solution demonstrated by over 500 leading brands around and beyond Vietnam, such as Hoffmann, Hexagon, Takamaz, Weldcom, Showa Denki, Saeilo, etc.
“Nepcon Vietnam 2018” will deliver a platform for electronics manufactures to source the right technologies and engage in face-to-face business discussion in large scale. “Nepcon Vietnam 2018” is the 11th edition of Vietnam’s only exhibition on SMT, testing technologies, equipment, and supporting industries for electronics manufacturing. The show will empower electronics producers to explore advanced technologies from over 200 technology providers from 20 countries, acquiring know-how by meeting with technology owners and industry experts in seminars, meeting skilled man powers, and expanding business networks via business matchmaking and networking functions. This is a must-attend event that will be the main engine to accelerate your business growth and Vietnam’s industrial advancement.
In additional, “The Supporting Industry Show 2018”, organized by Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), will offer opportunities for Japanese and Vietnamese companies across the supporting industry to secure partnerships and subcontracts to shape their business strategies. JETRO Ho Chi Minh, in coordinate with Ho Chi Minh City Center of Supporting Industries Development (CSID), Ho Chi Minh City Office and Investment & Trade Promotion Centre of Ho Chi Minh City (ITPC HCMC) will connect manufacturers that want to subcontract with 18 Japanese major companies or seek partnerships with 30 Vietnamese suppliers displaying their locally produced industrial parts.
At “Metalex Vietnam 2018”, the special training class will open for engineers to broaden their knowledge and skills necessary to operate smart technologies integrated with Internet of Things, Big Data, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence and advanced robotics that will transform Vietnam’s entire industrial ecosystem. The “Engineer Master Class” with the honor speaker from Ho Chi Minh City Association of Mechanical Engineering (HAME), is ready to help engineers create value and opportunities for a smart future.
The organizer Reed Tradex also keeps running the support activities such as “Business Matchmaking”, “Agent Wanted” and “Sourcing Service” to provide networking opportunity for local businesses to interact in a global market place. IPC Hand Soldering Competition at NEPCON Vietnam will be an arena for competitors to compete in building a functional electronics assembly within a time limit.
“Metalex Vietnam 2018”, “Nepcon Vietnam 2018” and “The Supporting Industry Show 2018” which open from 11 – 13 October, 2018 at Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), is definitely a must-visit exhibition for any industrialists who aim at penetrating Vietnam manufacturing market.
More information can be found on: www.metalexvietnam.com / www.nepconvietnam.com