A large trade fair with the participation of more than 100 leading Vietnamese businesses opened at the Convention and Exposition Centre on Koh Pich island in Phnom Penh capital city on July 15.

The Ho Chi Minh City Expo 2010 is jointly held by Vietnam ’s Ministry of Industry and Trade , Cambodia ’s Ministry of Trade and Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, and is the largest one of all Vietnamese goods trade fairs ever in Cambodia over the past 10 years.

The opening ceremony was attended by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An, HCM City Vice Mayor Nguyen Thi Hong as well as other senior officials of both governments.

The five-day exposition, which is said to be much larger than previous ones, attracted thousands of visitors right on its first day.

With over 300 booths, Vietnamese businesses, including big names that have gained popularity in Cambodia such as processed food producer Vissan, confectionary maker Kinh Do, dairy producer Vinamilk and garment maker Viet Tien, are displaying a wide range of products, from farm produce to electronics and construction materials.

The exposition has for the first time seen the presence of Vietnamese travel firms and health-care service providers.

This is a chance for Vietnamese businesses to continue expanding their share of the market while offering Cambodians more choices not only in consumer goods but also in tourism and health care services, said an exposition organiser.

During the exposition, business seminars and market-survey tours will also be held./.