Of note is the APEC House where the wood processing industries of 21-member economies of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum are displayed for the first time to celebrate APEC Year in Vietnam, the host of APEC Summit in November.

The Expo 2006 at the HCMC International Exhibition and Convention Center, Tan Binh district’s 446 Hoang Van Thu street, is viewed the largest of its kind in Vietnam.

This year’s show has also attracted the interest of foreign companies since Vietnam has emerged as a key exporter of wooden products over the past five years.

In 2005, at the wood furniture and handicrafts expo, there were 626 exhibitors and 36,000 visitors from 22 countries.

The woodwork industry has targeted boosting 2006 shipments of woodwork to US$2-2.2 billion and the first eight months of the year saw total exports leaping to $2.1 billion.

The country fetched $560 million from woodwork exports in 2003, with the figure doubling to $1.1 billion a year later and $1.6 billion last year due to local businesses’ efforts to tap potential importers like the US or Japan.

However exporters have yet to fully tap American, Japanese, and German markets, and still have not broken into potential markets like Canada, Russia and Eastern Europe.

Compiled by Ha Viet