A conference discussing the prospects of the Vietnamese coffee industry was held in Buon Ma Thuot city of Central Highlands Dak Lak province on March 10.

The event, co-organised by the People’s Committee of Dak Lak province and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, was part of the ongoing 4 th Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival 2013.

At the conference, local and foreign experts discussed the renewal of the coffee industry and sustainable coffee production methods as well as identified ways to increase the value of Vietnamese coffee in the global market.

Vietnam exports more than 1 million tonnes of coffee beans each year to nearly 100 countries and territories worldwide, ranking second among the world’s coffee exporters.

Last year, Vietnam surpassed Brazil to become the world’s largest coffee exporter after earning a value of 3.4 billion USD, a year on year increase of 36 percent.

Dak Lak province alone produces 400,000 tonnes of coffee beans and makes an export turnover of about 700 million USD per year.

The country’s coffee growing area has increased to over 614,500 ha from 21,200 ha in 1961.

However, Vietnam’s coffee industry is facing a lot of challenges, including the improvement of the quality and sustainability of coffee plants in the context of complicated developments of climate change.

On the day, the contest to seek the ambassador of Vietnamese coffee announced Nguyen Lam Diem Trang as the first Coffee Queen and Coffee Ambassador of Vietnam.

The contest, held by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee and the Dak Lak provincial People’s Committees, is part of activities to promote Vietnamese coffee and Vietnam’s coffee culture to the world.-VNA