The inaugural Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Festival 2025 was held in Singapore on July 18,  with the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore acting as the host, in partnership with the Singapore Fruits and Vegetables Importers and Exporters Association (SFVIEA).

Mr. Cao Xuan Thang, Trade Counselor and Head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore, was quoted by the Vietnam News Agency as  stating at the event that the festival was a long-cherished idea aimed at boosting trade promotion and business matchmaking for the fruit and vegetable sector.

He noted that Singapore serves as a critical transshipment hub. By strengthening the presence of Vietnamese goods with international partners in the city-state, Vietnamese enterprises can leverage Singapore as a gateway to penetrate other regional markets.

The festival created numerous opportunities for trade and networking between Singaporean partners and Vietnamese businesses. Featured items included durian, Hoa Loc and Cat Chu mangoes, lychee, longan, coconut, dragon fruit, bananas, pomelo, various mushrooms, taro, and an assortment of vegetables and spices.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Tran Phuoc Anh, also quoted by the news agency, described the collaboration as a highly beneficial initiative for promoting bilateral trade. He said that fruits and vegetables were chosen as the initial focus due to the sector's immense potential.

"With our strengths in diverse, fresh, high-quality products at prices suitable for the Singaporean market, we have identified this as a spearhead sector to penetrate Singapore and, from there, expand to other regions," the ambassador said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tai Seng Yee, Vice Chairman of the SFVIEA, emphasized that Singapore is a highly competitive market.

 "It is therefore excellent that Vietnam is supplying a greater variety of high-quality fruits and vegetables here," he said, as quoted by the news agency. He also highlighted Singapore's role as a highly efficient logistics hub, capable of facilitating the re-export of Vietnamese produce to other markets.

Throughout the festival, the Vietnam Trade Office showcased the nation's agricultural advantages, particularly the diversity of its specialty crops, consistent quality, and competitive pricing, which are considered key strengths of its fruit and vegetable industry.

The event also served as a platform to promote Vietnam's traditional culinary culture and provided an invaluable opportunity for Vietnamese enterprises to connect directly with a wide range of international partners in Singapore, including supermarket chains, industry associations, chambers of commerce, hotel groups, and wholesale and retail businesses.

Source: VnEconomy