Bangkok, 18 September, 2019: Central Group and Central Retail Vietnam has linked up with Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade to host Vietnamese Week in Thailand 2019 for the fourth year running, under the theme “Taste of Vietnam”. The week will see all manner of Vietnamese products, Thais’ favourite Vietnamese foods and many exciting events from 18 -22 September 2019 at Central Court and Eden 1 of CentralWorld. Over 500,000 attendees are expected.

Do Thang Hai, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Vietnam stated that “In recent years, Vietnam Government has facilitated Vietnamese suppliers to improve exporting directly to international retail systems including Thailand. Vietnamese Week in Thailand 2019 is an important event in this framework, held annually started from 2016. In order to promote and export Vietnamese products to Central Group's retail system, Central Retail Vietnam has recently cooperated with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to conduct market research and select potential products which are fit to the Thai market, as well as organize practical training courses to improve the capacity and quality to our products. We are highly appreciated this effort. On behalf of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam, I would like to thank the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand, Central Group and other related parties for their active support and assist to organize the event and other trade promotion in Thailand.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, Jurin Laksanawisit noted that with Thailand being the Socialist Republic of Vietnam’s largest trading partner in ASEAN, he was confident that business and trade between the two countries has unlimited opportunities for growth. This will emerge when there is partnership and cooperation between governments and the private sector to fully promote trade and investment between the two countries. Vietnamese Week in Thailand 2019 is a fine example of the public sector and private organizations such as Central Group joining forces to drive and expand business potential for both big and small firms to grow in overseas markets. In the process, they achieve both economic benefit and enhanced bilateral relations.

Ms Jariya Chirathivat, Executive Vice President - Business Development at Central Group, commented that Vietnamese Week in Thailand was a significant annual event for Central Group and of huge importance for Central Retail Vietnam. The event was now in its fourth year and has received consistent support from Vietnam’s Industry and Trade Ministry as a showcase for the country and for generating Business Matching to further promote trade. It is a great opportunity for Vietnamese companies to study the market and distribution channels in Thailand, as well as meeting Thai entrepreneurs and customers directly, to see opportunities for further trade and investment. Most importantly, the event enables Thais to become familiar with Vietnamese food products and culture more deeply than before, bringing long-term trade and economic benefits. This is in line with the Vision of Central Retail Vietnam to bring sustainable prosperity, and developing a higher quality of life for the people of Vietnam.

Vietnamese Week in Thailand 2019 is held in 2 large zones of CentralWorld – Central Court and Eden 1. These cover an area of over 1,000 square meters from the mall’s total 800,000, and will sell high-quality Vietnamese products from over 50 booths with non-food items such as Da Lat Hasfarm brand fresh flowers, handmade goods, silk, handicrafts made from lotuses and the Ao Dai Vietnamese national dress.

A large range of food items combines both those currently on sale in Tops and Central Food Hall and brands flown in directly from Vietnam. These comprise 5 main product categories starting with fruit, with Vietnamese dragon fruit a highlight, noodles, which include Vifon instant noodles and Pho, spices such as salt, pepper, garlic and fish sauce, tea and coffee from King Coffee, snacks, like Hai Binh cashew nuts, macadamia nuts, lotus seeds and chocolate, and finally processed fruit products such as the Vinamit brand. Such products dovetail with the strategy of Tops and Central Food Hall to import and promote products from ASEAN nations, and especially Vietnam, a strategic country for Central Group. In 2018, Tops imported coffee from King Coffee and Vinamit dried fruit. After these got a warm welcome from consumers, in 2019 Tops made plans to expand to new products which include instant noodles and Pho from Vifon, Hai Binh cashew nuts, Le Fruit brand jam, Sense Asia brand ground coffee and Dakado macadamia nuts. Thus, consumers who enjoy these Vietnamese products can buy them at Tops and Central Food Hall even when Vietnamese Week in Thailand is over.

To give Thai customers an even deeper experience of Vietnamese culture, Vietnamese Week in Thailand 2019 also features a continuous program of stage shows such as Vietnamese cultural shows, shows from shops exhibiting in booths, a special show from Vietjet Air, as well as impressive shows from former years, such as a demonstration of making Pho by the winning chef of Master Chef Vietnam, with the results given away to customers to eat fresh. There is also a booth taking 3D pictures to recreate the atmosphere of Vietnam with customers dressing as Vietnamese to get an attractive souvenir picture to take home with them. A booth from generous sponsor Vietjet has activities giving away air tickets from Vietjet Air, with many other giveaways for attendees.

The opening ceremonies for Vietnamese Week in Thailand 2019 were graciously presided over by Vietnam’s Deputy Industry Minister Do Thang Hai, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit and Nguyen Hai Bang, Vietnam’s ambassador to Thailand, as well as Central Group executives joining as witnesses. The event showed the good relations between Vietnam and Thailand, and the readiness of the state and private sectors to bring mutual economic, social and cultural development to both countries. The event was also graced by H’hen Nie, Miss Universe Vietnam 2017, who modelled an Ao Dai in the opening show to bring color to this year’s event.