Arobid TradeXpo: Optimising costs, expanding markets, and setting new standards for Vietnam's trade promotion

Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son listens to Arobid's business representatives at the Autumn Economic Forum 2025.

In this context, trade promotion activities – traditionally reliant on fairs and exhibitions – face the need to adapt to a new environment where data, artificial intelligence, and sustainability are foundational. The Autumn Economic Forum 2025, which opened on November 25 in Ho Chi Minh City, marked this transition as the online exhibition platform Arobid TradeXpo stood out with its "Make in Vietnam" model, enabling businesses to reach the world through technology rather than cost.

In the technology showcase area of the forum, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyễn Văn Được personally visited Arobid's booth. He praised the B2B online exhibition model developed by a Vietnamese company. This is not just a technological product but a practical trade promotion solution designed to address the cost, time, and space constraints Vietnamese businesses face when participating in domestic and international fairs. The interest from city leaders indicates that platforms like TradeXpo are no longer isolated private applications but have entered the realm of digital economic development policy.

Arobid TradeXpo is introduced as an AI-integrated online exhibition ecosystem. This platform not only displays products in digital booths but also connects buyers and sellers through data analysis algorithms, trade livestreams, and real-time buyer behaviour tracking systems, thereby creating more effective transaction opportunities. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Arobid Technology JSC, Mr Tran Van Chin, emphasised that the platform's primary goal is to solve "four challenges" for businesses: reducing participation costs, shortening organisation time, enabling unlimited connections, and increasing transaction probabilities through AI-assisted customer search.

Mr Tran Van Chin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Arobid Technology JSC, introduces the Arobid TradeXpo platform to Mr Nguyen Van Duoc, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.

The standout feature of TradeXpo lies in its direct economic efficiency. According to Mr Tran Van Chin, by eliminating costs for venue, sample transportation, booth design, personnel, travel, and accommodation, businesses can save 80–95% compared to traditional exhibitions. This is particularly crucial for small and medium enterprises, which account for over 97% of Vietnamese businesses, that often lack the resources to participate in international fairs. Additionally, the preparation time for an online exhibition is reduced to just 6–12 days, compared to 3–6 months for physical models. This time reduction not only cuts costs but also enables businesses to respond more swiftly to market fluctuations, especially as global trade changes on a quarterly or even weekly basis.

The benefits extend beyond cost savings. In the digital environment, trade opportunities do not end when the fair closes. Online booths operate 24/7, unrestricted by geography or time zones, and are always accessible to buyers from anywhere in the world. Artificial intelligence aids in market analysis, suggesting suitable buyers by industry, scale, import needs, and even product search habits. As a result, businesses can both produce and participate in trade promotion, rather than having to choose one due to time and resource constraints.

Ms Phan Thi Thang, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, visits the Arobid booth at the Autumn Economic Forum 2025.

According to the latest statistics from the platform, Arobid TradeXpo has organised over 17 B2B online events, featuring more than 1,770 booths, over 6,500 products displayed, and attracting over 1.2 million visits. These figures not only demonstrate the model's effectiveness but also reflect the market's shift: businesses are seeking new ways to expand their customer base without incurring high costs. Previously, trade promotion heavily relied on finance, workforce, and business scale; however, the online model is now paving the way for small and medium-sized enterprises to enter the global arena with minimal costs and maximum technology.

Beyond economic benefits, the digital exhibition model also offers environmental value – a factor that is increasingly important in international commitments. By limiting sample transportation, reducing travel, and avoiding the use of booth design materials, digital exhibitions significantly reduce emissions, aligning with the green trade trend and Vietnam's Net-zero 2050 commitment. This places trade promotion within the framework of the green economy, turning it into concrete actions rather than slogans.

At the forum, the Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee affirmed that TradeXpo has the potential to become a shared platform for the national trade promotion system and suggested Arobid collaborate with the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) for widespread implementation. From a policy perspective, this is a crucial step as Decision 1968/QĐ-TTg aims for 60% of fairs and exhibitions in Vietnam to be held online by 2030. Additionally, Arobid stated that the platform aims to support 5 million business households in transitioning to enterprises, participating in digital trade, and aligning with the private sector development direction outlined in Resolution 68 and the digital economy goal outlined in Resolution 57-NQ.

Arobid TradeXpo Platform.

To accelerate this transition, Arobid proposes that the government extend the current 50% trade promotion cost support – currently only applicable to traditional fairs – to the online model. This would not only encourage businesses to digitise but also help the government achieve its digitalisation goals without investing heavily in infrastructure, such as halls and exhibition spaces.

From a technological solution, Arobid TradeXpo has introduced a new approach to Vietnam's trade promotion: more efficient, more sustainable, and more internationally expansive. As the digital economy becomes a key pillar of development, the online exhibition model is no longer an option, but a necessary transition. With comprehensive policy support and public-private cooperation, platforms like TradeXpo can help Vietnamese businesses move faster, go further, and enter the global value chain not through cost, but through technology and data.

Vietnam Golden Autumn Fair 2025: Where traditional crafts meet modern markets More than a trade event, the first Autumn Fair 2025 has become a gateway for craft villages, cooperatives, and small enterprises to move beyond their ...

Deputy PM calls on the U.S. business community to continue expanding investment and long-term presence in Vietnam The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), the American Chamber of Commerce in Hanoi (AmCham) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington hosted ...