PANO - The fifth Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival opened in the evening of March 10th at Buon Ma Thuot City Square in Dak Lak province in the presence of Mr. Le Hong Anh, Politburo member and Permanent Member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat and General Tran Dai Quang, Politburo member, Minister of Public Security and Head of the Central Highlands Standing Committee.

In his opening speech, Y Dham Enuol, Deputy Chairman of the People’s Committee of Dak Lak province said the province is the biggest coffee producer with an annual output of over 400,000 tonnes and an annual export turnover of over US$ 700 million, contributing 60 per cent to the province’s budget.

An art performance at the opening ceremony

 

Dak Lak coffee has partly raised Vietnam’s coffee status in the world market. In 2013-2014 coffee season, Vietnam exported over 1.6 million tonnes of coffee, earning US$ 3.4 billion, turning Vietnam into the world’s leading coffee exporter.

Therefore, the festival is a good chance for Dak Lak to introduce its specialty and to affirm the important role of Vietnam's coffee in the world market as well as to call for more investment to improve the quality and quantity of coffee for exports.

Addressing the event, General Tran Dai Quang praised the organizers for organizing such a festival with the aim of honoring coffee growers and popularizing Vietnam’s coffee's brand. He asked Central Highlands provinces to cooperate with ministries, sectors and Vietnam Coffee-Cocoa Association to carry out a sustainable development plan and to continuously raise the status of Vietnam’s coffee in the world.

The opening ceremony, held by the provincial People’s Committee, some ministries and central sectors, the Vietnam Coffee-Cocoa Association and four Central Highlands provinces, included a special artistic show and a low-level firework display.

During the festival which lasts until March 12th, there will be many interesting activities highlighting the Central Highlands cultural identities.

Translated by Ha Thanh