<p>At a press conference in Ho Chi Minh City on May 5, the organizing board said the event is expected to draw representatives from consulates general of countries importing Binh Phuoc’s cashew, as well as domestic and foreign associations and enterprises engaging in cashew trade with the province. Huynh Thi Hang, Vice Chairwoman of Binh Phuoc People’s Committee and head of the organizing board, said that cashew farming and processing is an important economic sector of Binh Phuoc in recent year, which is employing about 40,000 labourers.</p> <p>The province has about 143,000 hectares of cashew area, accounting for 40 percent of the country’s total, along with 270 processing factories and 1,600 cashew trading household businesses. Last year, the locality earned US$500 million from cashew nut export, making up nearly one third of the province’s total export revenue. Binh Phuoc’s cashew nut has been rated as having the world’s best quality by experts and international customers.</p> <p>Hang stressed that the province hopes that the conference will create a chance for cashew nut farmers, processors and traders to meet and seek partnership with foreign peers. She added that the event is also expected to connect domestic and foreign enterprises, thus foster their collaboration in the future. Meanwhile, Nguyen Anh Hoang, head of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, said that the conference will focus on a wide range of issues, including the planning and development of cashew nut material area, the green cultivation of cashew under VietGap standards. Connectivity in producing and processing cashew nut, thus improving export value, and policies for developing the cashew nut industry are also on the agenda. Fact-finding tours of some local cashew farm and processing facilities will be arranged for participants, he added.</p>