Fifteen Vietnamese enterprises in different sectors and industries including agriculture, machinery, pharmaceuticals and handicrafts are displaying their best products at the 21st Southern African International Trade Exhibition (SAITEX), which opened in Johannesburg, South Africa, on June 22.

Various kinds of farm produce, construction materials, electrical equipment, fine arts and handicraft items, as well as pharmaceutical products from Vietnam are vying for attention alongside products from 44 other countries.

Several contracts were signed by Vietnamese businesses and South African importers on the opening day.

Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade Phan Tien Binh, who led the Vietnamese delegation to the event, said the exhibition was a good opportunity for Vietnamese enterprises to learn more about entering the South African market and facilitating access to the larger continent.

Ambassador Le Huy Hoang said Vietnam and South Africa should take full advantage of great potential that exists for bilateral trade.

The Vietnamese embassy plans to organise trade promotion events like SAITEX in other South African localities in the future, he said.

He advised Vietnamese firms to diligently learn more about the local market and its consumers and encouraged South African partners to seek cooperation opportunities in Vietnam.

SAITEX, the biggest exhibition of its kind on the continent, brings together producers, importers and distributors of consumer goods.-VNA