The third Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival opened at the 10/3 Square in Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak Central Highland Province on March 12. Present at the opening ceremony were Politburo member and Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Tong Thi Phong; representatives of ministries, agencies, and localities; and Dak Lak provincial authorities, along with representatives from foreign embassies and international organisations in Vietnam.
Addressing the ceremony, Lu Ngoc Cu, Chairman of the Dak Lak provincial People’s Committee, said the festival is the province’s premier economic and cultural event in 2011.
He emphasised that Dak Lak is Vietnam’s largest coffee-producing province with a total cultivated area of 182,000ha and an annual output of 400,000 tonnes of coffee beans, which accounts for 40% of the country’s total output.
Dak Lak coffee is exported to more than 80 countries and territories worldwide, contributing to Vietnam’s standing as the world’s second largest coffee-exporting country, he said, adding that Vietnam is now very famous for its coffee brands.
He said the third biennial festival is aimed at introducing Vietnamese coffee to the world, boosting trade, attracting investment, building strong brand names, and improving coffee quality and productivity for the sustainable development of the sector.
Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Phong highlighted Dak Lak’s significant achievements in socio-economics, politics, and culture.
Since the country’s liberation 36 years ago, the province has spared no efforts to maintain security and defence, protect the country's sovereignty, improve people’s living conditions, and build a strong Party, said Ms. Phong.
She said Buon Ma Thuot coffee has reinforced the prestige of Vietnamese coffee and she asked Dak Lak province to continue planning for the sector’s development. She also requested the province to support coffee growers and promote their coffee products through festivals, exhibitions, and other advertising activities.
Phong also asked relevant ministries and agencies to co-ordinate with the province to improve the quality of its products and create a strong brand name for Buon Ma Thuot coffee.
Also at the ceremony, there were art performances representing the cultures of the Central Highlands as well as a fireworks display to congratulate the province on the success of the festival.
Prior to the opening ceremony, there were a number of additional activities such as the country’s largest coffee fair with the participation of 185 businesses, a photo exhibition focused on Vietnamese coffee and tourism, the launching of a fixed trading floor for coffee, a street festival, seminars on the development of Vietnamese coffee, and the 24th Charming Vietnam Gala Performance.