Sir, as the world’s largest private furniture retailer, how has IKEA used raw materials from Vietnam in recent years? What is your opinion on furniture products originating from Vietnam?

Mr. Giafar Safaverdi - Director of Southeast Asia Supply Region - IKEA Group

We have been present in Vietnam through procurement and supply activities since 1993 and have continuously expanded our cooperation with various local supply partners over the past time. Globally, we constantly strive to work with our suppliers to create the highest quality and safest products for consumers, regardless of where they are produced. Therefore, IKEA suppliers in Vietnam share the same vision, culture and values ​​in creating home furniture products that are well-designed, convenient, affordable and highly sustainable.

Vietnam possesses an increasingly growing production capacity, policies that create many favorable conditions for import and export activities. Along with many advantages in the field of logistics, Vietnam has become an important link in our global supply chain.

What are IKEA's criteria for selecting suppliers, sir? To become a partner of IKEA in particular and furniture retailers in Sweden in general, what criteria must Vietnamese businesses meet?

For IKEA, our suppliers and service providers play a key role in creating a better everyday life for many people. Together, we explore new ways to operate and develop our business in a socially and environmentally responsible manner, working together to solve challenges and collaborating to create positive change. We select suppliers who share our values ​​and ambition to make a positive impact on people and the planet.

IKEA is one of the world's largest privately held furniture retailers.

That is why we have developed the IWAY standard – the IKEA Code for Responsible Sourcing – as a core business premise for IKEA suppliers. IWAY is how IKEA and its suppliers ensure responsible sourcing of products, services, materials and components, by defining clear expectations and ways of working for suppliers, ensuring that business operations are always environmentally, socially, in terms of workers’ working conditions and animal welfare. Implementing the IWAY standards is also a prerequisite and mandatory for all supply partners and service providers when working with IKEA. The IWAY Code seeks to provide meaningful work for all workers and contribute to positive change in local communities throughout IKEA’s global value chain.

Currently, Vietnam is emerging as one of the largest wood furniture export markets in the world. What are your expectations about sourcing and importing goods from Vietnam when participating in Vietnam International Sourcing 2023?

Vietnam is an important wood supply market for IKEA suppliers, providing large quantities of Acacia wood, a dark wood sourced from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified sources, suitable for our outdoor furniture.

In the coming period, we will study the procurement of rubber wood with many applications in furniture production. For decades, we have been working with various partners in Vietnam to improve sustainable forest management. Regardless of where our suppliers source their wood, to minimize the risk that the wood does not meet supply chain requirements, including legal requirements, we require our partners to source and use only FSC certified wood.

We hope that through this series of events, we can focus on building and sharing knowledge to improve timber sourcing activities in parallel with sustainable forest management, thereby improving livelihoods and enhancing climate change resilience, in order to be ready to welcome any changes in supply conditions from different markets around the world.

By participating in Viet Nam International Sourcing 2023, IKEA also wishes to share our process of building a sustainable supply chain according to the sustainable development strategy “Positive benefits for people and the planet” (People & Planet Positive Strategy), which covers all activities in IKEA’s value chain globally. Furthermore, we wish to update information and experiences from participating businesses and contribute to sharing to promote the role of Vietnam - a sourcing location with highly competitive production potential.

EVFTA has been bringing great opportunities for Vietnamese goods in Sweden in general and Europe in particular. What advice do you have for Vietnamese businesses to effectively take advantage of this agreement and bring their goods deeper into the Swedish and European markets?

The EVFTA is an important tool in boosting Vietnam’s manufacturing and export capabilities. Manufacturers should focus on maintaining high standards and product quality and studying consumer trends and preferences of global customers to leverage their existing advantages. In addition, businesses should build strong distribution networks and focus on developing sustainable business activities to maximize the opportunities brought by the Agreement.

Thank you!