Vietnam Resource Group Organizes Trade Mission For US Furniture Buyers To Visit Show

Furniture World Magazine

The annual International Furniture, Handicraft and Giftware EXPO is scheduled from Oct. 4th to 6th, 2006 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This is the largest EXPO hosting all furniture, woodworking and handicraft manufacturers in Vietnam. In 2005, there were 626 exhibitors and 36,000 visitors from 22 countries. To assist American companies in sourcing and/or marketing products/services in Vietnam, Vietnam Resource Group – a consulting firm based in Washington DC (www.vietgroup.net) – is organizing a trade mission to Vietnam in conjunction with this special event. The mission is being supported by the US Vietnam Chamber of Commerce – UVCC- (www.usvnchamber.org), the Federation of International Trade Associations (www.fita.org), the Vietnam Trade Office in the USA (www.vietnam-ustrade.org). The Bilateral Trade Agreement has removed high tariff and other trade barriers between the US and Vietnam. Moreover, Vietnam’s World Trade Organization ascension will lead into great access for US companies’ products and services in Vietnamese market. As one of the top 10 top countries that exports furniture to the US, Vietnam’s furniture exports reached a record US$1.4 billion last year with US and EU as its main markets. In addition, due to the limited resources, Vietnamese companies are importing lumber, veneer, machinery, technology.... to produce furniture and wooden articles for export. The mission will be led by Mr. Christopher Runckel, UVCC Chairman. Mr. Runckel - who was the first appointed US diplomat to Vietnam after the war – is also the Principal of Runckel & Associates, a business consulting firm based in Portland, OR specializing in developing business in Asia. In addition to visit the EXPO, mission participants are scheduled to meet with individual potential Vietnamese buyers/vendors to discuss mutually beneficial business projects based upon participants’ needs. For more information, please contact: Vietnam Resource Group Bill Benton, Director/West Coast 510-219-0637 Ngoc Nguyen, Marketing Associate 650-207-1956 Trung Trinh, Managing Partner 202-271-8200 Or email to: vietgroupusa@vietgroup.net