Int'l furniture fair to be held in HCM City hinh anh 1Visitors check out furniture at Bao Hung's stall at the VIFA-EXPO 2015. (Photo: VNA)

HCM City (VNA) – The 2016 Vietnam International Furniture and Home Accessories Fair (VIFA-EXPO 2016) to be held in HCM City next week will offer industry executives the chance to network and explore business opportunities.

It has attracted 245 domestic and foreign exhibitors who will set up 1,243 booths, an increase of 38 percent and 36 percent from last year, Huynh Van Hanh, Deputy Chairman of the Handicrafts and Wood Industry Association of HCM City (HAWA), said.

The increase reflects the strong demand from furniture manufacturers for trade promotion to boost exports, he told a press conference on February 29.

The fair will display a wide range of export-oriented indoor and outdoor furniture, handicrafts, and interior furnishing and accessories.

Hanh said 1,200 customers from 82 countries and territories had registered as of February 29 to visit the fair.

Organised by the city Department of Industry and Trade, HAWA and HAWA Corporation, the fair will also see the awards ceremony for the Hoa Mai Prize, a furniture design competition.

The expo will be held at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre from March 8 to 11.

Last year Vietnam's exports of wood and wood products were worth 6.9 billion USD, up 10.74 percent from the previous year.-VNA
VNA