Rome (VNA) –ജ The Vietnamese Embassy in Italy, in collaboration with Italian and Vietnamese partners, organised a forum on connecting the coffee industries of the two countries on October 9 as a key event during the ongoing Vietnam-Italy Coffee Day in Turin city.

This was a large-scale and significant economic event aimed at fostering cooperation and establishing partnerships between the two "coffee powerhouses." In his opening remarks, Ambassador Duong Hai Hung said the forum offered a valuable opportunity for both sides to discuss and explore the potential for establishing concrete partnerships and collaboration across various stages of the coffee supply chain, including production, processing, brand building, franchising, joint ventures, investment, distribution, equipment supply, as well as experience sharing, aimed at promoting the sustainable development of the coffee industry in each country. For her part, Deputy Mayor of Turin Michela Favaro noted that Italy is renowned for its coffee culture and excellent recipes, such as espresso, cappuccino, and macchiato. She hoped for stronger growth in economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two nations, showing her desire that the forum would successfully connect Vietnamese and Italian businesses. Nguyen Nam Hai, Chairman of the Vietnam Coffee - Cocoa Association (VICOFA), provided an overview of Vietnam's coffee industry, which has positioned a global reputation in terms of plantation scale, productivity, and output. Omar Zidarich, President of the Italian Coffee Roasters Group (GITC), said the forum was a crucial event in the context of the world witnessing numerous challenges related to coffee prices for many different reasons, adding that GITC’s members wish to have access to information provided directly by coffee producers and exporters. Major players in the Italian coffee industry, such as Lavazza Group and Interkom, shared their insights and visions regarding coffee, equipment, and coffee processing technologies, as well as Italian coffee brands, market trends, and consumer preferences, and demand for collaboration with Vietnam. They also showed their willingness to train coffee professionals for Vietnam. According to Fabrizio Munegato, a representative of the Lavazza Group, Vietnamese businesses consistently demonstrate their capacity in coffee production and competitiveness, which undoubtedly provides momentum to further strengthen partnerships between businesses of the two countries. Representatives of Vietnamese coffee firms showcased their capacity to supply coffee to international markets, highlighting the demand for Italian equipment and technology in coffee processing, as well as opportunities for investment, joint ventures, and collaboration. Bach Thanh Tuan, Vice Chairman of VICOFA, emphasised that the forum signified a significant advancement for the Vietnamese coffee business community as it connects with Italy, a key market in Europe. Sharing Tuan’s view, Carlo Odello, President of the International Institute of Coffee Tasters (IIAC), proposed that Vietnam and Italy should collaborate to explore the Asian coffee market, which still holds significant potential. Vietnam is now the world's second-largest coffee exporter, while Italy is the global third-largest importer of coffee beans./.