GARDEN Trader (SPRING 2019)

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. Horticulture and Floriculture are one of the most promising sectors of the Vietnamese economy. Vietnam is a huge emerging market and the country‘s exports of Fruits & Vegetables have enjoyed strong growth in the past years, with an average rate of 26.5 per cent a year; from $439 million in 2009 to $ 3,5 billion in 2017. Furthermore Vietnam has the potential to become one of the world’s largest flower exporters according to experts. The sector is expected to show further growth due to strong exports and a strong domestic demand. The Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Vietnam, which is expected to go into effect this year, will give an additional boost to the sector. HortEx Vietnam, which was successfully launched in March 2018, hosted more than 110 companies from 20 countries around the world and welcomed some 4.500 trade visitors from Vietnam and abroad. KEY PRODUCT AREAS 1. FRUITS & VEGETABLES 2. FLOWERS & PLANTS 3. TECHNICAL SYSTEMS AND POST HARVEST HANDLING 4. LOGISTICS AND SERVICES HortEx Vietnam 2019 - 2nd International Exhibition & Conference for Horticultural and Floricultural Produc- tion and Processing Technology in Vietnam Organizers: Nova Exhibitions BV (The Netherlands), VEAS (Vietnam) Supported by: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Develop- ment | The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Vietnam | Vietnam Fruit & Vegetable Association (VinaFruit) | Dalat Flower Association Dates of next edition: 13-15 March 2019 Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Venue: Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) Website: www.hortex-vietnam.com VIETNAM AT A GLANCE GDP TRADE SHOW PREVIEW w w w . I M B 2 B . c o m 25