(VAN) Once viewed as final-stage line processes, processing and packaging have now become decisive factors in optimizing costs and expanding export markets.
This trend is strongly emphasized in the orientation of ProPak Hanoi 2026 – the international processing and packaging exhibition to be held in Hanoi for the first time in October 2026.
Instead of merely acting as a machinery showcase, the event aims to connect businesses with technology providers, research institutes, and experts to address manufacturing innovation at a time when competition relies heavily on operational efficiency, quality, and sustainability.
Ms. Annie Tran, Senior Manager at Informa Markets Vietnam, spoke at the press conference on June 25. Photo: Bao Thang.
This shift coincides with the rapid expansion of the northern manufacturing sector. In the first quarter of 2026, Viet Nam attracted approximately USD 15.2 billion in registered FDI capital, a 42.9% increase year-on-year, with the processing and manufacturing industries maintaining the largest share.
Northern localities such as Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hai Phong, and Hung Yen are attracting an increasing number of projects in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sectors. This influx is fueling a massive demand for investments in processing technology, packaging, automation, logistics, and supply chain management.
Speaking at the press conference announcing the event on June 25, Ms. Annie Tran, senior manager at Informa Markets Viet Nam, stated that businesses no longer compete solely on scale or cost, but on operational efficiency, technological adoption, quality standards, sustainability, and the capability to participate in global supply chains. According to her, a modern production line not only boosts productivity but also reduces waste, improves quality control, and meets the market’s escalating requirements.
Sharing this perspective, Mr. Nguyen Duy Lam, chairman of the Viet Nam Association of Food Science and Technology (VAFST), noted that processing, preservation, and packaging technologies are no longer isolated technical steps but have become the core foundation of the entire food value chain. From reducing post-harvest losses and enhancing product quality to ensuring food safety and expanding export markets, everything directly depends on the modernity of technology and equipment. Mr. Lam predicted that demand for equipment upgrades, automation, and digital transformation will rise rapidly, reflecting the modernization of Viet Nam’s manufacturing sector.
The upcoming exhibition in Hanoi will also serve as a gauge for international technology providers to evaluate the scale and appeal of the Vietnamese market before making investment or expansion decisions. Conversely, domestic enterprises will have a valuable opportunity to access new solutions directly without searching abroad.
Reflecting on international exhibitions he previously attended, Mr. Lam noted that domestic firms remained relatively cautious, mostly accessing lower-tier technologies. Hosting a specialized exhibition in Hanoi will draw numerous businesses and suppliers from diverse countries rather than focusing on a few isolated markets, thereby expanding opportunities for collaboration and technology transfer.
ProPak has been successfully organized in Ho Chi Minh City for many years. Photo: Organizing Committee.
In the beverage sector, Mr. Nguyen Van Viet, chairman of the Viet Nam Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Association (VBA), admitted that the pressure on businesses lies not just in increasing output, but in quality control, cost optimization, energy saving, and developing safe, sustainable packaging. Packaging, therefore, does not simply protect the product; it serves to convey information, elevate brand identity, and satisfy eco-conscious consumer trends.
As standards for quality, environment, and traceability increasingly become mandatory criteria to join global supply chains, the competitive edge for food and beverage enterprises is no longer generated at the final point of sale. Instead, it is forged right from investments in processing and packaging technology-links that were once considered auxiliary but have now become the foundation for long-term growth.
ProPak Hanoi 2026 will take place from October 13 to 15 at the Vietnam Exhibition Center (VEC) in Dong Anh, Hanoi, with an expected scale of over 4.000 square meters. Alongside pavilions showcasing processing, packaging, automation, and logistics technologies, the exhibition will host forums on digital transformation, smart factories, sustainable packaging, the circular economy, ESG, and tailored business matchmaking programs.
Building on the proven success of ProPak Viet Nam, ProPak Hanoi 2026 marks the brand’s debut in the Northern market, further reinforcing its reputation as the leading processing and packaging exhibition in Viet Nam. Taking place in Hanoi, the nation’s political and industrial hub, the event continues the legacy of delivering cutting-edge technologies, industry expertise, and impactful networking opportunities.
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