HawaExpo 2023: Programmes to expect

From 22-25 Feb 2023, HawaExpo 2023 aims to promote the long-term and sustainable growth of Vietnam’s wood and handicraft industry, featuring products such as indoor and outdoor furniture, office furniture, gift and handicraft woodwork, wood materials and panels, and more.

Organised by the Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of Ho Chi Minh City (HAWA), the exhibition will be held at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The exhibition is supported by four other furniture associations: Association of Vietnam Timber and Forest Product (VIFORES), Binh Duong Furniture Association (BIFA), Dong Nai Wood and Craft Association (DOWA), and Forest Products Association (FPA).

The inaugural edition strives to create momentum for the next fairs and opportunities for international customers to participate in the furniture industry of the South East Asian and Greater China regions.

Sharing about HawaExpo 2023, Nguyen Quoc Khanh, Chairman of HAWA said: “Possessing good production capacity, effective management, strong workforce and available raw materials, Vietnam’s wood and furniture industry is the second export position in the world as it deserves.

“Therefore, HawaExpo 2023 is the fair where it can expose its diversification and the strength of local manufacturers. The fair will exhibit indoor and outdoor furniture and furnishings as well as handicraft products, and it will affirm to break out of the outsourcing model and join higher segments in the value chain.”

The exhibition will take advantage of the availability from the exhibition area in Ho Chi Minh City. This place and the surrounding area have reportedly more than 600 factories and are the economic centre of the country, attracting and meeting the sourcing needs of all customers.

HawaExpo 2022 also pays attention to creating a bridge between buyers and exhibitors through exhibitions, thus initiating B2B matching, seminars, networking events during the exhibition. There will also be an extended sourcing week planned for “HawaExpo After Dark” with showroom visits, cultural exploration, or more.

Beyond the physical format, all exhibitors will participate in an online exhibition to promote trade connections during and after the show.

HAWA also encourages visitors or customers to apply for the exhibition through their Organiser Support Buyer (OSB) policy, in addition to the Organiser Support Exhibition (OSE) policy, which reportedly bring various benefits to visitors who pre-register through HawaExpo’s website before 15 Jan 2023.

The benefits include: sourcing support and face-to-face meeting with manufacturers during the fair; a complimentary networking pass; a complimentary entry ticket to the Buyer Lounge with drink voucher; a car transfer to the fair and factory visit with an associate; one Buyer’s Kit that contains an exhibition directory, guild map, badge, activity programme and side event information; and lastly, a faster check-in process.