The event also saw the presence of Politburo member and Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh and Politburo member and Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan, among others.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Chairman of Ben Tre provincial People’s Committee Cao Van Trong said that Ben Tre has nearly 200,000 coconut growing households and 72,000ha of coconuts, accounting for 50% of the total coconut farming area of Vietnam and 80% of the coconut farming area in the Mekong Delta region.
The province posts an annual coconut output of nearly 800 million fruits and export revenue of nearly US$200 million. Products made from coconut account for 20% of the province’s industrial production value and 25% of the province’s total export revenue.
This year’s festival will last until November 20 and will feature various activities including exhibitions of coconut products, trade fairs, the launch of a start-up and innovation space, seminars on the sustainable development of the coconut industry, a coconut cuisine festival, folk games, and others.
In particular, women in ao ba ba (traditional dress of southern women) will parade on the streets of Ben Tre city to honour the traditional dress of the local women.
A pageant contest entitled Beauty of Ben Tre will be held on November 17 as part of the Ben Tre Coconut Festival.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh said that the province of Ben Tre boasts the largest output and export potential of coconut, with coconut farming having made significant contribution to the socio-economic development of the province.
He praised the province for the organisation of the fifth coconut festival with diverse and practical activities, contributing to promoting the image of Ben Tre and Vietnam as well as honouring local farmers, scientists and enterprises for developing the coconut industry.
He expressed his hope that new coconut products with higher quality and competitiveness will be developed to build a sustainable coconut industry and increase income for the locals.
