The Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association and the Central Highland province of Gia Lai’s People's Committee co-hosted the opening ceremony of the third Vietnam Coffee Day on December 9.

A large number of residents, business representatives, and over 60 international guests from 12 countries worldwide were in attendance for the opening ceremony of the Vietnam Coffee Day 2019.

Photo: VNA

The event serves as an ideal venue for both domestic and foreign coffee producers, processors, and traders to meet and develop sustainable links in producing, processing, and trading coffee products which ultimately contributes to elevating the brand and value of Vietnamese coffee.

During his opening speech at the ceremony, Kpa Thuyen, Vice Chairman of the Gia Lai People's Committee, said that coffee was first introduced to Gia Lai before 1975 and has affirmed its position in the province’s agricultural structure as well as in both domestic and global coffee market.

He added that Gia Lai is keen to call on economic groups, businessmen, organisations, and individuals at home and abroad to explore co-operation opportunities and joint venture in terms of production, processing, and the trading of coffee.

Thuyen underlined the importance of co-operation and joint ventures as a means of promoting the sustainable development of the coffee industry.

By the end of 2018, the country’s total coffee area was estimated to be at approximately 700,000 hectares with an export turnover reaching close to US$4 billion, serving as an important contributor to the the agricultural sector’s growth nationwide.

According to Nguyen Hoang Hiep, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, between 1975 and the present, along with achievements made in the agricultural field, the nation’s coffee industry has grown tremendously in terms of its area and output, as well as gradually building a modern coffee processing industry that features a variety of products in line with the market.

Gerando Patacconi, a representative of the International Coffee Organization (ICO), affirmed that over the past three decades Vietnam has become the leading member of the ICO and the second largest producer and exporter of coffee globally.

He pointed out that the most important challenge facing the ICO is to ensure that coffee farmers are able to achieve a reasonable income and salary.