Through trade promotion activities, enterprises and cooperatives nationwide gain added opportunities to expand consumption markets, develop distribution networks, and strengthen trade cooperation with domestic localities as well as Lao and Chinese partners.

Opportunities to promote products and expand markets

Taking place from October 17 to 22 at 7/5 Square, Điện Biên Phủ ward, the 2026 Điện Biên International Trade Fair has attracted over 120 participating entities, enterprises, and cooperatives. Among them are 200 booths run by domestic enterprises, 12 booths by enterprises from northern Lao provinces, and 12 booths by Chinese businesses. Displayed commodities are diverse, spanning agricultural produce, processed food, OCOP products, handicrafts, and regional specialties to consumer goods, garments, and machinery and equipment serving production. This serves as an occasion for Điện Biên’s enterprises and cooperatives to promote their flagship products - such as coffee, macadamia, rice, processed agricultural items, and OCOP goods - to domestic and international consumers and partners.

Bringing signature specialties such as khẩu xén and chí chọp to the fair, the Hoa Ban Trắng Cooperative, Mường Lay ward, aims to expand customer outreach, seeking sales agents and distributors. Lò Chúc Chi, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the cooperative, shared: “Participating in the fair, we wish to promote Mường Lay’s distinctive products to a wider clientele; concurrently connecting with agents and distributors to expand our consumer market. Through this, the cooperative also gains opportunities to explore market demand, improve packaging designs, and elevate product quality.”

For small-scale cooperatives and production facilities, the fair offers an avenue to bolster product promotion and seek market outlets. Instead of relying on traditional distribution channels, units directly introduce products, interact with customers, gauge market needs, and establish new business relationships.

Hailing from Cao Bằng province, the Tâm Hòa Cooperative participates in the fair aiming to introduce products to consumers in Điện Biên and neighboring localities. Nguyễn Thanh Tâm, Director of the Cooperative, stated that through the fair, the unit hopes to introduce products to more consumers, seek distribution partners, and broaden its market reach. Meeting customers face-to-face helps the cooperative grasp market preferences, thereby outlining appropriate product development directions.

Alongside local businesses, many large domestic corporations take part in the fair seeking to broaden their client networks. Nguyễn Duy Hải Linh, representative of Dabaco Việt Nam Group, shared: The corporation showcases animal feed, fertilizer products, and items that have established brand recognition in the market. Beyond reaching consumers in Điện Biên, the enterprise expects to explore cooperation opportunities with partners from Laos and China, listening directly to customer demands to devise suitable market development strategies.

Strengthening trade linkages and international cooperation

The 2026 Điện Biên International Trade Fair features the participation of Lao and Chinese enterprises across 24 booths. This contributes to expanding the space for exchanges and linkages between Vietnamese enterprises and neighboring partners, generating additional avenues for goods trade and commercial collaboration.

As the sole province in Việt Nam sharing national borders with both Laos and China, Điện Biên possesses significant advantages in developing border trade, bridging commerce between the Northwestern region and northern Lao provinces as well as Yunnan province (China). With more than 455km of national borderlines, a border-gate and opening network, and steadily invested and upgraded transport infrastructure, the province enjoys favorable conditions to expand import-export activities and cross-border trade.

Attending the fair, Sôm Von Kẻo Khằm Phon, Chairman of the Administrative Committee of Phôn Thoong district, Luang Prabang province (Laos), highly praised the diversity of showcased goods. According to him, Vietnamese goods boast high quality and are favored by Lao consumers. Through the fair, the Lao side hopes to explore and select suitable products, connecting with Vietnamese enterprises to bring goods to the Lao market, thereby broadening trade opportunities and fostering commercial cooperation between both sides.

Bùi Quang Hưng, Deputy Director-General of the Việt Nam Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, delivered a speech highlighting that the fair serves as an occasion for Vietnamese, Lao, and Chinese enterprises to meet, study market demands and standards, and move toward forming substantive, long-term commercial connections. For enterprises and cooperatives in Điện Biên and the Northwesternern provinces, this represents an opportunity to bring products beyond traditional boundaries, directly accessing domestic and regional partners and distributors.

According to Bùi Quang Hưng, amid trade competition setting ever-higher demands on standards, branding, and supply-chain capabilities, trade promotion activities must steer toward long-term objectives. The focus lies in developing standardized raw material zones, accelerating processing industries, establishing brand identities, advancing logistics services, and expanding e-commerce, step-by-step shifting from mere spot transactions to enduring linkages within value chains. The Việt Nam Trade Promotion Agency continues to accompany Điện Biên in matching supply and demand, fostering cross-border e-commerce, and supporting enterprises in market expansion.

This year’s fair takes place concurrently with the 2026 International Investment Promotion Conference between Điện Biên province (Việt Nam), Yunnan province (China), and Luang Prabang province (Laos). Combining trade promotion and investment activities aims to create added opportunities for enterprises and investors to meet, exchange information, and explore multi-sectoral cooperation.

As an activity under the national trade promotion program, the 2026 Điện Biên International Trade Fair receives financial support for organization from the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The Organizing Board subsidizes 50% of booth rental costs, up to two booths per entity; specifically, Lao and Chinese enterprises are granted complete exemption from booth rental fees. This policy creates conditions for enterprises and cooperatives, especially small-scale production units, to promote products, engage consumers, and seek business partners.

Trade promotion activities are accelerated against the backdrop of Điện Biên’s positive economic performance. According to data unveiled at the fair, in the first nine months of 2026, the province’s total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenues rose by 16.87% year-on-year; import-export turnover reached nearly USD 121 million, an increase of 21.84%. These figures demonstrate dynamic shifts across commercial, service, and foreign trade activities, while underscoring the imperative to continue expanding markets and enhancing the competitiveness of local commodities.

Permanent Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Lò Văn Cương affirmed: Điện Biên identifies enterprises, cooperatives, and production and business entities as vital forces in economic growth, market expansion, and job creation. The province will continue accelerating administrative reforms, improving the investment and business climate, stepping up dialogue, and creating optimal conditions for enterprises to explore investment opportunities and expand production and business locally.

The 2026 Điện Biên International Trade Fair unlocks opportunities to showcase products, locate partners, and broaden commodity distribution markets. The ultimate efficacy of trade promotion hinges upon the capacity to maintain and cultivate relationships established post-fair. This requires enterprises and cooperatives to proactively refine product quality, elevate packaging, and satisfy the standards and demands of each market segment. When meetings and exchanges materialize into procurement contracts and long-term partnerships, the fair will demonstrate its role as a commercial conduit, helping boost border trade and heighten the value of Điện Biên’s commodities.