First int'l fair in central key economic zone expected

Hanoi (VNA) - An international fair of the central key economic zone, CREXPO, will be held for the first time in central Da Nang city from November 19-23.

About 220 domestic and foreign businesses have registered for displaying
their products, including agro-forestry-fisheries items, foods and
foodstuff, fine arts and handicraft products, construction materials,
textiles and garments, and machines.

Banking and insurance services, information and telecoms technologies, and
projects calling investment will also be introduced at the event.

Introducing the event in Hanoi on August 7, Deputy Minister of Industry
and Trade Nguyen Thanh Bien said CREXPO will serve as a bridge for trade
relations and create opportunities for domestic and foreign businesses to
connect with the central and central highlands region of Vietnam .

He said he hoped that CREXPO, which is scheduled to be held annually as
part of Vietnam 's trade promotion programme, will become a destination in
the central and central highlands region for domestic businesses and their
peers from neighbouring countries of Laos , Cambodia , Thailand and
Myanmar .

The central key economic zone, covering five provinces and cities of Da
Nang , Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam , Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh, has been
developing into one of dynamic economic zones of the country.

Focusing on farming product processing and petrochemical industries, the
region is magnetising many domestic and foreign investors.

Vietnam in its socio-economic development strategy by 2010 targets to
develop the central key economic zone into a hi-tech industrial hub, a
centre of financial, banking, telecoms, education and healthcare services,
and an entrepot for international trade.-Enditem