CIUDAD REAL Nov. 5 (EUROPA PRESS) – The president of the Ciudad Real Provincial Council, Miguel Ángel Valverde, has started a commercial mission of the National Wine Fair (Fenavin) in Hanoi, a joint initiative of the provincial institution with the Chamber of Commerce that is developed first in Vietnam and will continue in Thailand. Valverde heads a delegation in which all the political groups that make up the provincial Corporation participate. Before the round of commercial contacts, an institutional event took place at the residence of the Spanish ambassador in Vietnam, Carmen Cano de Lasala, to whom Valverde explained that they will hold different meetings with importers and with the media in order to extend the outstanding international character that the National Wine Fair already accredits, the Provincial Council has reported in a press release. Although this was not the first issue that was discussed during the meeting, since the first minutes were dedicated to the devastating effects that DANA has caused in the provinces of Valencia, more markedly, Albacete and Cuenca. All those involved have shown their interest and concern, making reference to the collaboration offered by the administrations, including the Ciudad Real Provincial Council. Subsequently, Valverde indicated that the commercial mission is carried out “with the firm intention of continuing to strengthen and promote a fair that is the most important for Spanish wine worldwide and, without a doubt, the most relevant held in Spain. ”. Valverde thanked the ambassador for the enthusiastic reception, who told him that it is the first trade mission he has received from the country in the year he has been in office. Cano de la Sal has been informed by Valverde, who has also been accompanied by the president of the Chamber of Commerce, José Luis Ruiz, and by the director of Fenavin, Manuel Juliá, about the business dimension that accredits this important monographic exhibition event. on Spanish wine organized by the Ciudad Real Provincial Council. During the meeting held with the Spanish ambassador in Vietnam, the president of the provincial institution highlighted the purpose of the mission and its vision for the future. “We have conveyed to the ambassador the objective that we bring with this commercial mission, which is none other than to continue insisting on this type of operations and hope that, in future visits, we can also count on wineries from other territories in Spain,” he assured. . He also explained to Cano de Lasala that the delegation is also made up of representatives of a dozen wineries from the province of Ciudad Real, a group representative of the province's wine excellence, which seeks to consolidate its presence in the Asian market.
VIETNAM, CENTRAL PARTNER
Cano de Lasala commented, for his part, that, for Spain, Vietnam is a central partner in Southeast Asia and that both countries commemorated in 2022 the 45th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, while in 2024 they celebrated the 15th anniversary of strategic bilateral partnership. Spain and Vietnam maintain a prosperous, dynamic and growing bilateral relationship for the future, whether in commercial, business, tourism, cultural or educational fields. An example of this is the learning of the Spanish language which, with more than 500 million speakers around the world, finds growing demand in Vietnam, as well as the constant support of the Spanish Embassy and the Aula Cervantes in Hanoi. The Embassy works actively to continue strengthening ties between Spain and Vietnam, undoubtedly favored by frequent exchanges between the respective societies. The day of the Ciudad Real delegation has continued with the planning of a preparatory meeting with the wineries participating in the trade mission, ahead of the central event of the visit to Vietnam, which will take place in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon. The president of the Provincial Council has made it clear in this first institutional meeting that includes the agenda of his trip to Asia that the objective is ambitious, since it is not only intended to strengthen Fenavin as the reference fair for the Spanish wine sector, but also to increase commercial opportunities for wineries in the province of Ciudad Real. “This is a good start to continue strengthening the business possibilities of our wineries, opening new horizons in a market with great potential like the Asian one,” concluded Valverde. In addition to Valverde, Ruiz and Juliá, the Ciudad Real delegation includes the second vice president and institutional coordinator of Fenavin, Sonia González; the spokesperson for the Government of the Provincial Council, Rocío ZarcoM the fifth vice president and provincial deputy for Vox, María Jesús Pelayo; the provincial deputy assigned to the Socialist Group Jesús Manuel Ruiz Valle, and the president of the Federation of Businessmen of Ciudad Real, Carlos Marín.
MEETING WITH MEDIA
In a meeting with the media, Valverde explained the reasons that led them to choose Vietnam as a destination for this commercial action abroad. “Since 2020, after the signing of a free trade agreement between Europe and Vietnam, commercial possibilities have become more advantageous,” he commented, going on to explain the importance of taking advantage of the growth of a country that, year after year, , advances and overcomes challenges, representing a key opportunity for Europe and, particularly, for Spain and Fenavin. “It is a challenge to introduce new consumption habits around wine, an essential product for the province of Ciudad Real and for Spain, in a country that is important today and will be even more so in the future,” he stated. The president of the provincial institution has also addressed international competition, since there are several producing countries working to conquer new markets in Vietnam. And he added that they have chosen to go to this Asian country, because of its values and its history of constant improvement. “We hope that this trade mission will help reduce the disadvantage we have compared to other producers such as Italy, Argentina, Chile or Australia, and that in the medium term, Spanish wine will occupy the place it deserves for its quality and price,” he declared. Valverde before highlighting the intention to integrate Spanish wines into the consumption habits of the Vietnamese. In relation to the central event of the mission, Valverde has indicated that 120 importers are expected to participate in the tasting and around thirty in specific meetings with the twelve wineries from the province of Ciudad Real that have sent representatives. This dynamic – he explained – will allow a direct approach between producers and potential buyers, facilitating commercial agreements. When asked about the prices of Spanish wines and their relationship with quality, Valverde pointed out that Spanish wines are characterized by having an average price, with options ranging from the most affordable to premium wines. He added that compared to French wines, which can cost twice as much, Spanish wines are cheaper, maintaining a similar or even higher quality. He has also indicated that Chilean and Argentine wine are in a price range similar to that of Spain, while Italian wine also tends to double the price of Spanish wines.