Vietnamese wood products go global

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The figure was released earlier this month by Vietnam Timber and Forestry Product Association. Its general secretary Nguyen Ton Quyen said there was still much room for growth.

“The number of enterprises has more than doubled over the past 10 years to around 2,600. However, most of enterprises have not yet invested on modern technology, thus, the capacity and quality are limited,” said Quyen.

Bernhard Dirr, managing director of German Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers Association, within the German Engineering Federation (VDMA), said some Vietnamese large-scale enterprises like Hoang Anh Gia Lai or Truong Thanh Furniture Corporation were equipped with production lines from Germany.

“Vietnam is an important market for Germany’s woodworking machinery manufacturers as the demand for modern technology of Vietnamese enterprises will go up in coming time. In view of the rising costs of materials, energy and more especially labor, the best way for Asia's wood industry to improve quality and productivity is to invest in high-end automated machinery. High-tech machinery made in Germany is the solution of first choice for intelligent automation and optimal efficiency,” said Dirr.

In 2010, Vietnam’s export turnover from wood and wooden products reached $3.5 billion. The projected figure for 2011 is $4.2-4.4 billion.

Stephan Ph. Kuhne, board of management member from Deutsche Mesee, said Vietnamese wooden product manufacturers may need more aggressive marketing and promotion to the global market.

Hannover-based Deutsche Messe develops, plans and runs trade fairs and exhibitions in Germany and abroad.

“International trade fairs, for instance, could better bridge Vietnamese wooden products to international markets,” said Kuhne.

From May 30 to June 3, the company would run Ligna Hannover, the world's leading trade fair for the wood and forestry industry technology, processes and products.

The fair will focus on resource efficiency as the central theme. It will present new solutions that meet the most exacting customer requirements while at the same time delivering maximum production efficiency.

Ligna Hannover provides an overview of all technologies along the entire wood value chain, from forestry and timber processing to woodworking. Its coverage of the entire forestry and wood value chains are unparalleled in the international trade fair sector and are prized by visitors as a highly effective and efficient market research tool.

“Ligna 2011 will match the exhibitor turn out achieved in 2009 despite the fact that not all targeted industries have fully recovered from the recession. We anticipate that some 1,700 exhibitors from around 50 nations will come to Hannover to showcase their products,” said Kuhne.