The fair, which will run until March 8, has drawn the participation of more than 600 companies from 30 territories and countries around the world. This is the first time Singapore has entered the event.

The Vietpa, S.A Company displayed a wide range of products at the fair including construction material, interior products, footwear, and handicrafts.

Expocomer is Panama’s annual trade event and one of the biggest international fairs in the Latin American region, it has been organised for the last 25 years.

Head of the organising board of Expocomer, Fernado Arango said this year, the number of pavilions has increased by 7 percent compared to the previous year and the value of goods traded is expected to surpass US$127 million.

Trade relations between Vietnam and Panama have seen remarkable steps in recent years. In 2007, two-way trade turnover reached more than US$240 million. Vietnam earned US$130 million from exporting goods to Panama including children toys, footwear, clothes, aquatic products, computer and spare parts. Vietnam’s key import items are machines, equipment, chemicals, materials and other goods.