Impressions of Vietnamese spices at the International Fair of Chili and Spices Rieti, Italy

According to a reporter in Italy, the 13th Rieti International Chili and Spice Fair 2024 took place from August 28 to September 1 in the city of Rieti, Central Italy.

Photo caption — Rieti International Fair seminar. Photo: Thanh Hai/VNA

With more than 160 booths, 450 varieties of chili from all over the world, along with traditional cultural and culinary activities, this event attracted hundreds of thousands of chili and spice enthusiasts from all over Italy, as well as foreign tourists. The Vietnamese product booth, organized by the Vietnamese Embassy and the Trade Office in Italy in coordination with domestic agricultural export enterprises, introduced to tourists and consumers not only chili products, but also outstanding Vietnamese agricultural products such as pepper, tea, coffee, cinnamon, and star anise. Talking to VNA reporters, Vietnamese Trade Counselor in Italy Duong Phuong Thao emphasized that with the orientation of developing modern, green and sustainable agriculture and a market of 100 million people, Vietnam is a good opportunity for Italy to expand the market for agricultural, forestry and fishery products of the two countries; The two sides can strengthen cooperation in effectively exploiting resources to develop modern and sustainable agricultural products. Vietnam is aiming to supply clean, high-quality, low-emission, responsible, transparent and sustainable agricultural products; and is actively developing and protecting the brand of Vietnamese agricultural, forestry and fishery products in the world. Vietnam's continuous presence at the Fair has demonstrated its support and appreciation for this important event, while also affirming its strengths and commitment to the ability to provide unique Vietnamese chili and spice products, as well as creating opportunities to promote the vast potential for cooperation between Vietnam and Italy in this field.

Vietnamese spices have a distinctive flavor and quality, different from similar products in the world. Vietnamese agricultural products want to bring diversity in flavor and color, enrich the beauty, nutritional value, multi-use for health and create special value in dishes, meeting the awareness and trends of consumers about a healthy lifestyle. The Vietnamese booth at the annual International Fair of Traditional Rieti Chili and Spices has become familiar to Italian businesses and friends. The echoes from the 5 previous fairs have attracted many tourists and partners to visit and learn about Vietnam's typical agricultural products. Trade turnover between the two countries has grown significantly in recent years, from 4.9 billion USD in 2019 to 6.2 billion USD in 2023. Italy is Vietnam's 3rd largest trading partner in the European Union (EU), after the Netherlands and Germany. Vietnam is Italy's largest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Vietnam exports many agricultural products to the Italian market such as coffee, pepper, cashew nuts, spices, cinnamon, star anise, fruits, etc., but only accounts for about 3% of Italy's agricultural import market share. Compared to other Asian countries with similar agricultural strengths, Vietnam has the advantage of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the EU, in which many agricultural products and spices imported into Italy and the EU have a 0% tax rate. In recent times, the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy has actively implemented many activities to promote agricultural trade, connect import-export and production enterprises... such as mobilizing the Italian Minister of Agriculture to visit and work, sign a memorandum of understanding, support Unitec company to come to Vietnam to survey growing areas to study solutions to help improve the post-processing quality of key agricultural export products, work with Italian importers and distributors... During the fair, the Vietnamese Trade Office in Italy participated in sideline activities such as the Workshop on opportunities from international trade, with the participation of officials from the Lazio region and Rieti city, working with representatives of the Rieti - Viterbo Chamber of Commerce and visiting a number of businesses in the region.

The International Fair of Chilli and Spices of Rieti is an annual event that attracts many visitors thanks to its innovative and rich content. It has now become one of the most important festivals in the province of Rieti and is famous throughout the country. Gastronomy, culture and entertainment are skillfully combined to create a spicy success story that attracts many visitors and chili enthusiasts every year.