World Trade Center Arkansas Helps Bring Company to Bentonville

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Ribbon cutting for the new Tinnghia Corporation trade office in Bentonville .

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A partnership between an Arkansas company, Made in USA WORKS!, and the World Trade Center Arkansas, has led to a trade agreement between the state and a Vietnamese province.

Monday, June 29, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed a memorandum of understanding at the state Capitol with Chairman Dinh Quoc Thai of Vietnam’s People’s Committee of Dong Nai Province. The agreement outlined opportunities for developing economic, trade and educational opportunities between Arkansas and the province. The governor explained that the memorandum is a statement of desire for a mutually beneficial relationship between the state and the Vietnamese province.

The effects of the agreement can already be seen in Bentonville, where Tinnghia Corporation, a company located in Dong Nai, opened a trade office on June 30. Tinnghia partnered with Made in USA WORKS!, an Arkansas-based company that recruits manufacturers from overseas to locate in the United States. Tinnghia is currently looking for a location in Arkansas to assemble furniture, and Tinnghia is also interested in opening a coffee plant in Arkansas.

Chairman Duc of Tinnghia Corporation with Boon Tan of the World Trade Center Arkansas at the new Tinnghia office in Bentonville.

The relationship between Arkansas and Dong Nai province began in January with a trade mission to Vietnam, led by representatives from Made in USA WORKS! and Boon Tan, the senior director of global trade strategy at World Trade Center Arkansas. This visit began the talks that led to the signing of the memorandum of understanding.

The World Trade Center Arkansas anticipates benefiting from this partnership as well. With Arkansas’ top export being the aerospace industry and services, the World Trade Center Arkansas believes that some Arkansas companies can benefit from the new Ho Chi Minh City international airport, which is adjacent to Dong Nai province. In addition, Tan hopes to connect an Arkansas supplier of latches and hinges to a yacht manufacturer in Dong Nai. The center’s representatives have also had discussions with members of the Department of Apparel Merchandising and Product Development in the Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences about introducing a study abroad program to the Dong Nai province, a leader in the garment industry.

The World Trade Center Arkansas is also eager to continue its relationship with Made in USA WORKS! as it explores bilateral trade opportunities in Arkansas and Dong Nai province.