58 years ago, on December 10, 1961, President Ho Chi Minh visited and talked with farmers at the Dong Hieu coffee farm in Nghia Dan district, Nghe An province. During his talks, Uncle Ho made predictions of increasing the position of Vietnamese coffee in the world, while calling coffee farmers to update their scientific knowledge and technological advance in their farming in order to boost coffee export.
Thoroughly grasping Uncle Ho’s strategic guidelines, over the past decades, the coffee sector has been active in realising his wishes, making Vietnam emerge as the second largest coffee producing and exporting country in the world risen to the second position in the world in terms of cultivation and export of cash. Therefore, the Government has designated December 12 as Vietnam Coffee Day, which was first observed in Da Lat city, Lam Dong province in 2017.
The third Vietnam Coffee Day 2019 is being held in Pleiku City, Gia Lai province. Taking three days from December 8 to 10, the event brings together coffee producers from top coffee producing provinces, including Lam Dong, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Kon Tum and Binh Phuoc.
It also attracts the participation of international coffee organisations, associations and businesses from China, Brazil and ASEAN countries as well as ambassadors and trade counsellors in Vietnam.
During the event, the delegates can take part in a range of activities including a display of premium products from popular coffee brands, business-matching events, and tours to local sustainable coffee gardens and coffee factories.
Coffee is grown in many areas across Vietnam, with the largest farming area in the Central Highlands, following by the northwest, central and southeast regions. Vietnam has about 664,000 hectares of coffee plantations. It sells coffee to 80 countries and territories worldwide, accounting for 14% of global market share and 10.4% of global export value, ranked second after Brazil.
Coffee export turnover reached US$3 billion annually. However, only 7% of exported Vietnamese coffee products are processed. Therefore, the profit earned is not commensurate with the amount of goods exported.
It is believed that thanks to special care of the Government, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and authorities of cities and provinces nationwide, the Vietnam Coffee Day will contribute to balancing the quality and quantity, and price and export revenue of Vietnam’s coffee.
The event is also expected to provide an opportunity for the sector to promote the brand, products and images of Vietnamese coffee to domestic and international customers, thus raising the competitiveness and diversifying coffee products in a bid to realise the goal of earning US$5 billion – US$6 billion from export by 2030.
