Furniture fair promotes locally made products
The Vietnam Furniture and Home Furnishing Fair, called VIFA Home 2013, opened at the Tan Binh Exhibition and Convention Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, on November 14.
It aims to promote locally made furniture, home decor and handicraft products in the domestic market.
VIFA Home 2013, which will run until November 17, is of a bigger scale than last year with the participation of 90 local firms displaying products in 435 booths.
On display are indoor and outdoor furniture, outdoor garden decorations, gifts, souvenirs, support services, handicraft items and lacquerware.
Huynh Van Hanh, Deputy Chairman of the Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of Ho Chi Minh City (Hawa), said sale of locally made furniture and handicraft products in the domestic market has reduced significantly in the past years.
He attributed the decrease to the slowdown property market, which accounted for 40% of the domestic wood demand.
With a stable macro-economy this year as well as the Government's policies to warm up the property market, recovery and growth should be seen from next year, he said.
He hoped furniture sales will recover in 2014 following the government's measures to warm up the property market.