The 4th Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak closed on March 12, making the aroma of fresh coffee float up from the Central Highlands far and wide.

The closing ceremony, themed “ ighlands ’s aroma”, was fascinated by performances of 12 artistic troupes in the province and other localities, highlighting coffee production and popularising the brand of Buon Ma Thuot coffee to the world.

Also at the ceremony, the People’s Committee of Dak Lak province honoured 20 coffee products for their quality and 20 farmers and scientists.

The four-day festival, under the theme “Buon Ma Thuot coffee, integration and development”, went through various activities including exhibitions and fairs, street festivals, and seminars.

Held every two years, the Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival sticks to the goal of promoting the Vietnamese coffee industry and its products, especially popularising the brand of Buon Ma Thuot coffee in particular and that of Vietnam to the world.

It also contributes to drawing in investment and promoting tourism in Dak Lak province and the Central Highlands generally.

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.-VNA