Nearly 100 delegates representing businesses from South Africa and Vietnamese business representatives attended the conference. The conference was a good opportunity to meet, exchange, and provide information and in order to promote trade between South Africa and Vietnam.
"Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1993, relations between South Africa and Vietnam have had many highlights, this is only in terms of political relations, but also in many areas of work and results, especially in economic and trade, science and technology, national security, and environmental protection", Kgomotso Ruth Magau - South African Ambassador - spoke.
Trade turnover between South Africa and Vietnam topped the list of Vietnam’s African export markets. For nearly 10 years, total bilateral trade volume between the two countries has increased more than five times, from 192 million USD in 2007 to 920 million in 2013 and reached 1.2 billion USD in 2015. South Africa is the gateway to Africa - and Vietnamese goods to this market will be able to penetrate the continent.
Co-operation on the environment and science and technology and many other areas of co-operation are also making substantial progress, contribute to strengthening trust, promoting bilateral relations, especially after the two sides signed the MOU in December 2012, Action to protect wild life in June 2013, and a memorandum of Understanding on science and technology in June last year.
"The priority areas have obtained many good results and needs to continue promoting in the future so that the relations between the two countries can be more effective. We aim that within 2-3 years, trade turnover between the two countries will double the current 1.2 billion USD", Do Thi Kim Lien - South Africa Consulate Ho Chi Minh City - said.
Also at the conference, Ambassador Kgomotso Ruth Magau gave a letter of commendation to the South African consulate for its work in promoting relations between the two countries.
