HCM City (VNA) – The 14th International Processing andPackaging Exhibition and Conference (ProPak Vietnam 2019) kicked off at the SaigonExhibition and Convention Centre in Ho Chi Minh City on March 19.

The three-day eventattracts the participation of 540 exhibitors from 31 countries and territories,including first-timers such as Vietnam’s Dai Chinh Quang and Thien An Loccompanies, China’s Beijing Omori Packing Machinery , and Sidel India.

BT Tee, GeneralManager of UBM VES – the exhibition’s organiser, stated that the processing andpackaging sector is facing several difficulties, including the overuse ofplastics in production and the lack of orientations on environmentalprotection.

Therefore, Propak 2019wants to introduce new technologies that can solve these challenges.

Paolo Lemma, ItalianTrade Counselor in Vietnam, said that Propak Vietnam is one of the importantannual events of Italian businesses in the Vietnamese market.

Last year, Vietnamimported machines and equipment in this field worth 25.2 million EUR (28.6million USD) from Italy, up 2.4 percent year-on-year.

More than 20 Italianenterprises are taking part in Propak Vietnam 2019 to introduce their productsand new technologies, he added.

A wide range of newtechnologies are expected to introduced at the fair, including those inprocessing, packaging and bottling of food-beverage, pharmaceuticals andcosmetics, along with printing machinery and materials, among others.

In addition, theVietnam Association of Food Science and Technology (VAFoST) will join handswith competent authorities to organise the “Food Engineering and Packaging forSustainable Development” seminar, which is expected to lure many domestic andinternational experts.

ProPak Vietnam is thepremier sourcing and networking trade event for food, beverages, andpharmaceutical processing and packaging technology in Vietnam. Since itsinception in 2003, ProPak Vietnam has grown steadily in stature and prestige tobecome a regional industry hub which has helped evolve and improve theprocessing and packaging sector in Vietnam and beyond.

Last year, the eventdrew the attention of more than 9,000 visitors and 407 exhibitors from 31countries and territories. –VNA