At a working session between the Vietnamese Embassy's delegation with representatives of the Trade and Investment Agency of KwaZulu-Natal (TIKZN) (Photo: VNA) This was the first trip by the ambassador to South Africa’s southeastern coastalprovince, aiming to lay the foundation for Vietnamese firms to penetrate intoone of the localities with largest economic scale and fastest growth ofthe country.
During his trip, the diplomat had working sessions withlocal policy consultative agencies and logistics businesses.
Speaking at a working session with representatives of the Trade and Investment Agency of KwaZulu-Natal (TIKZN), Loi briefedparticipants on the economic situation of Vietnam in 2020 as well as majorsocio-economic development orientations in the future.
He underlined that Vietnam and South Africa should continueto bolster the already-sound bilateral partnership, especially in trade,investment and tourism.
The embassy was ready coordinate with authorised agencies andcompanies at home to tap cooperation opportunities with South African partners,initially by increasing meetings between businesses from both sides, hesaid.
At the meeting, Director of the TIKZN Neville Matjie updatedthe Vietnamese side on the locality’s policies to attract foreign investors,especially the model of "One-Stop-Shop" that provides quick and effective response toadministrative requests and legal support to investors.
He agreed with Loi on the need to increase visits amongenterprises of both sides to turn business opportunities into reality.
At a working session with the Chamber of Commerce and Industryof Durban city (Durban Chmaber), the economic hub of KwaZulu-Natal, Loi and CEOof the Durban Chamber Palesa Phili agreed to coordinate closely in organising andsupporting visits by businesses of both sides to each other's country topromote trade cooperation.
Palesa Phili asked the embassy to introduce Vietnamesepartners for the chamber to sign a deal on collaboration in trade promotion.
During the trip, the embassy’s working delegation also visitedDurban port and the Dube Tradeport Special Economic Zone.
The Durban port is the busiest port in South Africa and oneof the four most important gateways to Africa. Loi proposed toleaders of the port a plan on coordination and delegation exchange between thetwo sides to share experience in seaport management and logistics activityoperations.
According to the Vietnamese Trade Office in South Africa, trade betweenthe two countries reached 1.4 billion USD in 2020, a considerable rise from 1.1billion USD in 2019. Vietnam mostly exported phones and components, footwear,computers, electronic products and spare parts to South Africa./.
VNA
