Metalex Vietnam 2022: Shaping the Future of Manufacturing

On the occasion of Metalex Vietnam 2022, which is scheduled for October 6-8 in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Business Forum's reporter has an interview with Mr. Vu Trong Tai, General Director of Reed Tradex Vietnam Co., Ltd.

Could you please give an overview of Metalex Vietnam 2022?

As soon as the COVID-19 pandemic was successfully contained, Vietnam managed to recover its growth, continuing to be a leading investment destination in the region due to its ability to meet export demands. Open policy, assertiveness and flexibility of the government, signed and enacted bilateral agreements, and great geopolitical changes are determining factors for Vietnam's attractiveness.

We are standing before a great opportunity to accelerate growth and participate more deeply in the global supply chain. Mechanical processing and industrial manufacturing are the foundation of commodity production. With the theme "Shaping the future of manufacturing", Metalex Vietnam promises to be a perfect focal point for all global technology suppliers and the domestic mechanical manufacturing community to exchange innovative ideas, business know-how and innovative solutions.

For you, what are the highlights of this year's event?

This year, the Ho Chi Minh City Office of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) will cooperate with the Ho Chi Minh City Trade and Investment Promotion Center (ITPC) and the Ho Chi Minh City Supporting Industry Development Center (CSID) to host “Supporting Industry Expo 2022”, collocated with “Metalex Vietnam 2022 (MXV)” organized by Reed Tradex Vietnam. We believe that this cooperation will bring positive development to supporting industries. Visitors will not only have the opportunity to discover a variety of modern machine tools and metalworking solutions at Metalex Vietnam, but also initiate contacts with Vietnamese and Japanese businesses in supporting industries.

At this year's exhibition, customers will experience a series of exciting and effective events as follows: 

Machinery exhibition

Visitors to Metalex Vietnam will be able to witness and experience first-hand machines, equipment and technological solutions showcased by domestic and international exhibitors, from automation technology, metal cutters, metal shapers/metal sheet cutters, castings and molds, welding technology, tools and tooling, factory equipment/auxiliary and support equipment, measurement and test technology, processing system and software.

Technology demonstration

The technology "show" helps visitors discover the latest exclusive technology applications.

“Technology demonstration at Metalex” is considered one of the fastest and most effective outreaches for exhibitors to introduce technology applications to thousands of potential buyers.

Workshop on "Application of additive manufacturing & 3D printing on metals" by the Vietnam Welding Society (VWS)

Metal additive manufacturing, also known as metal 3D printing, offers design freedom with the ability to manufacture parts from a variety of materials.

The Vietnam Welding Society (VWS) directs manufacturers and businesses to better understand metal additive manufacturing, apply technology to process metal parts and provide a detailed view of the industry.

Welder Skills Final Competition

The Vietnam Welding Society in collaboration with Reed Tradex Vietnam, the organizer of the international exhibition Metalex Vietnam - Welding Vietnam 2022, will organize the "Welder Skills Competition 2022", which is to select and honor outstanding individuals and companies of welding technology and create an effective business communication and connection platform. The event is part of the annual international exhibition, Metalex Vietnam - Welding Vietnam 2022.

Puzzle challenge

This game stimulates players' judgment with the only metal puzzle set at the Metalex event. This also aims to introduce the ability to manufacture highly sophisticated and precise mechanical products.

Not only focusing on three days of exhibition, this year's Metalex will also have a series of M-Talk forums opened continuously in industrial centers of the country around the year to bring the latest market information, exchange experience in production management, human resources and business development and update technology to the mechanical manufacturing community and especially connect business opportunities. This year, visitors will experience a fast and convenient electronic registration technology for the first time as well as connect with card-code scanning technology. 

What did visitors say about the previous editions?

This year's Metalex Vietnam 2022 (MXV) is in its 15th edition. Exhibitors and visitors all agreed that this was the leading exhibition event in the industry with the professionalism of organizers, the number and quality of visitors, and the diversity and variety of side events. Exhibitors were all very satisfied with the outcome obtained at Metalex exhibitions. As a result, the scale of the exhibition has been markedly expanded.

What do you think about the interest of exhibitors in the Vietnamese market in general and in Metalex Vietnam exhibitions in particular?

Vietnam is standing before a great opportunity to achieve breakthrough development thanks to its competitive advantages and trust in the international market. Both domestic demand and export capacity growth, and continued FDI inflows created new investment magnetism. In order to enhance competitiveness, Vietnamese manufacturers need to upgrade equipment and update the latest technology solutions to improve quality, increase productivity, and reduce cost. Exhibitors all expect new purchasing power from this investment momentum. Vietnam's exhibited industries themselves are yet to be developed in sync with the economy and there is thus much room for growth to help accelerate economic growth.

COVID-19 disrupted your exhibitions, conferences, networking and business promotion events. What are your solutions to maintain contact with customers during the pandemic?

During two years of the pandemic, the entire MICE industry was severely impacted, making face-to-face communications impossible. We quickly brought exhibition events to online platforms, applied technology to deliver nearest-to-reality experiences to customers. In addition to online exhibitions and theme-based seminars, technology demonstrations were also held regularly on digital platforms. In particular, online trade connections took place very frequently and brought satisfaction to all parties involved. On the upside, the COVID-19 pandemic also helped accelerate technology development, some of which continued to be applied in live exhibition events such as registration and business card scanning applications.

What do you think about Vietnam's industrial development trends, including the mechanical engineering and the manufacturing industry?

The world economy is facing an uncertain outlook and there are many negative factors slowing global economic growth, to about 3.2% in 2022 and 2.9% in 2023. Rising inflation, the war in Ukraine, and geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China and in other regions are key factors. The world is concerned about potential recession. Asia is slightly less affected than the United States and Europe. However, Vietnam is still an attractive destination for FDI flows as businesses want to diversify their supply chains. Its economic growth is forecast at 6.8% in 2022 and 6.3% in 2023. Export demand for mechanical engineering products will continue to increase and will create a very good opportunity for businesses in the industry. By making good use of this opportunity, Vietnam's mechanical manufacturing and supporting industries are likely to make a huge breakthrough. 

Thank you very much!

Source: Vietnam Business Forum