Vietnam Manufacturing Expo opening the gates to Industry 4.0

Vietnam Manufacturing Expo 2017 (VME) is fast gaining momentum to become the industry’s foremost sourcing, procurement, and information event. Visitors will discover a broad range of technologies, knowledge, and networks from 200 leading brands from 20 countries.

In addition, there will also be a large number of technological solutions on display for Industry 4.0 production.

“Industry 4.0 may or may not be recognised as a revolution. Rather, it may be seen as evolution. Industry 4.0 will be a game-changer for the Vietnamese workforce. Human resources will need multiple skills to take on complex manufacturing roles,” Isara Burintramart, managing director of Reed Tradex, the organiser of VME, shared at the opening ceremony.

Considering that skilled labour is key to stepping forward to the new era of Industry 4.0, the organiser have also prepared content, activities, and an education programme that will inspire and enhance knowledge and industry networks for all participants.

These activities include the Welding Competition, VME Forum by VAMI on the topic of “New Technological Applications in Manufacturing Mechanical Products”, Engineer Master Class in which an executive from an automotive components manufacturer whose client include the motorcycle brand Piaggio will talk about “The Journey of a Successful Business,” and “Shows in Show”.

Another highlight of this year’s VME are the two co-located events Industrial Components and Subcontracting Vietnam (ICSV), where parts-makers and potential buyers will be matched, and Vietnam Sheet Metal, where sheet metalworking technologies, knowledge, and ideas will be discovered. This is the answer to serve the demands of production-oriented investors, who represented 70 per cent of the total foreign direct investment in the country.

Vietnam is opening up its economy and bringing down tariff and non-tariff barriers towards a multitude of countries both within Asia and globally. The change was largely triggered by the ever-increasing South Korean, Japanese, and Taiwanese investments and the new investors from Thailand.

Manopchai Vongphakdi, Thai Ambassador to Vietnam, noted on the current trends, “I have been seeing business opportunities emerging for Vietnamese businesses, especially in the manufacturing sector where the majority of Thai investment resides. Thailand is currently ranked tenth among the 112 foreign investors in Vietnam. Thai businesses have invested in 440 projects with a total registered capital sum of $7.7 billion, according to the Foreign Investment Agency.”

This year, Small and Medium Industrial Institute (SMI) will lead Thai companies to enter Vietnam by showcasing themselves at the Thai Pavilion. There are three other international pavilions from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan to support visitors to source products and services from leading technology providers.