HCM CITY — ILDEX Vietnam 2026 and Horti&Agri Vietnam 2026 will take place from May 20 to 22 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre, providing a platform for Vietnamese businesses to access advanced technologies, explore partnerships, and connect global innovations with local expertise.

Organised by VNU Asia Pacific, ILDEX Vietnam 2026 – the 10th International Livestock, Dairy, Meat Processing and Aquaculture Exposition – is expected to attract more than 250 companies from over 25 countries and territories, along with around 10,000 trade visitors.

A key highlight will be the Vietnam Pavilion, featuring leading domestic companies, helping Vietnamese enterprises showcase products, strengthen brands, and forge strategic partnerships across the livestock value chain.

A series of conferences and technical seminars will focus on sustainable livestock development, digital transformation, technological innovation, and global market trends. Business matching programmes will also be organised to help companies expand cooperation.

Speaking at a press conference to introduce the exhibitions in HCM City on April 24, Phạm Kim Đăng, Deputy Director of the Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, said that despite global uncertainties, fluctuating input costs, and disease risks, Việt Nam’s livestock sector has maintained growth, ensuring domestic food supply while increasingly integrating into global supply chains.

Products with competitive advantages such as honey, suckling pigs, bird’s nests, salted duck eggs, processed chicken, and Halal-certified goods are gaining ground in export markets.

Việt Nam ranks among the world’s leading livestock producers, standing fifth in pig population, second in waterfowl, and among the top 12 in animal feed production, he said.

By the first quarter of 2026, key herds continued to grow, with pigs up 2.9 per cent and poultry 3.3 per cent year-on-year, while meat output reached 2.27 million tonnes, supporting domestic demand and exports of US$198 million, up 54.3 per cent.

“These figures underscore the sector’s resilience and provide a foundation for a shift towards higher-value, more sustainable production,” Đăng said.

However, challenges remain, including disease risks, high production costs, and stricter international standards. He stressed that adopting science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation is essential to improve transparency, strengthen value chains, optimise production, and reduce costs.

In this context, ILDEX Vietnam 2026 is expected to play a significant role.

“The exhibition is not only a platform for showcasing advanced technologies in breeding, nutrition, equipment, processing, and veterinary services, but also a bridge helping Vietnamese enterprises access global knowledge, enhance competitiveness, and expand export markets,” he added.

According to Hoàng Mạnh Hà, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Nông Nghiệp và Môi Trường (Agriculture and Environment) newspaper, ILDEX Vietnam has long been recognised as an influential exhibition in Southeast Asia’s livestock and veterinary sectors, while Horti&Agri Vietnam – the international trade show for future crop, horticultural and floricultural production – serves as a key platform for crop production and hi-tech agriculture.

For the first time, the two exhibitions will be co-located, creating a more comprehensive platform that connects the entire agri-food value chain, from production to processing and distribution, he said.

Nguyễn Trung Chính, Director of the International Technology Exhibition and Events JSC (ITEC), emphasised that the future of livestock lies not only in growth but in smart, sustainable, and resilient development, supported by advanced technologies from global partners. — VNS