Vietnamese products on display at the 11th World Chili Pepper Trade Fair in Rieti, Italy. Source: Vietnam's embassy

Vietnam is among exhibitors at the 11th edition of the World Chili Pepper Trade Fair (Fiera Campionaria Mondiale del Peperoncino) in the city of Rieti, central Italy from August 24 – 28, introducing not only its best chili pepper products but also other farm produce, such as pepper, tea, coffee, wood ear, shiitake mushrooms and galangal, VNA reported.

This year, the annual festival features more than 160 booths with about 450 chili pepper varieties from all over the world on display. Various cultural and culinary activities are scheduled on the sidelines of the event, attracting hundreds of thousands chili pepper enthusiasts and foreign visitors.

The fair takes place at the right time, when the global demand for spices is on a rise, Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Duong Hai Hung said in his remarks at the event’s opening. The EU is now the world’s largest spices market.

Hung said the event is not only an expo for chili pepper and spices but also a cultural festival, bringing Rieti and Italy closer to the world and the world, including Vietnam, closer to Italy.

This is the fourth time that Vietnam has joined the festival.

The Vietnamese booth at the event introduced to visitors Vietnamese chili and chili products and many other products such as mushroom, tea and coffee. Source: Vietnam's embassy

With tropical weather and diverse ecosystems, Vietnam is rich in spices, including many very special and popular flavours such as cinnamon, anise, pepper, cardamom, cashew and chili. Source: Vietnam's embassy

He highlighted agricultural products as Vietnam’s key export items which brought home close to USD 32.3 billion in revenue in the first seven months of 2022, up 12.2% against the same period last year. Vietnam is emerging as a major spices supplier in the global market, the diplomat said, adding that the country has been the world’s No.1 pepper bean exporter for 18 years.

Vietnam shipped USD 4.6 million worth of pepper bean to Italy last year. Its cinnamon and anise products account for some 3% of Italy’s market share.

According to Hung, Vietnam is not only a supplier of spices but also a very promising market with a population of nearly 100 million and a fast-growing middle class thanks to decades of robust economic development. Vietnam boasts strong connectivity with various major markets through 16 free trade agreements which it is signatory to.

Hung was the only foreign ambassador invited to speak and cut the ribbon at the launching ceremony.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Duong Hai Hung works with representatives of the Central Government Representative Office in Rieti. Source: Vietnam's embassy

On this occasion, the ambassador also had meetings with the representatives of the Central Government Representative Office in Rieti, Gennaro Capo, Mayor Daniele Sinibaldi and leaders of Rieti city to discuss measures to promote local cooperation.

Rieti city's leaders expressed their joy and appreciation for Vietnam's participation as the honored guest of the fair; impressed with the development of Vietnam in general as well as of Vietnam's agriculture and spice industry in particular; expressed his desire and willingness to cooperate with the embassy to promote economic diplomacy, cultural exchange, delegation exchange, local sisterhood, student exchange, education and training cooperation.

They confirmed that it will send a delegation of Rieti's government and businesses to participate in the Vietnam - Italy trade promotion conference scheduled to be held on September 19, 2022 in Rome.

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