Vietnam, southern African countries share experience in developing MSMEs

Vietnam has plenty of experience in developing micro, small- and medium-sized enterprise (MSMEs) which Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries could learn from, said South African Ambassador to Vietnam Phi Mpetjane Kgaogelo Lekgoro at a workshop in Hanoi on August 17.

MSMEs account for up to 95 percent of the total businesses in Vietnam (Illustrative image. Source: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has plenty ofexperience in developing micro, small- and medium-sized enterprise(MSMEs) which Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries couldlearn from, said South African Ambassador to Vietnam Mpetjane KgaogeloLekgoro at a workshop in Hanoi on August 17.

The workshop creates a venue for Africanembassies in Vietnam and the VietnamUnion of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) to explore futurecooperation opportunities, he added.

He pledged to support the VUFO to connect withMSMEs to implement different projects between African nations and Vietnam.

Established in 1992, the SADC now has 15 memberswith a combined population of nearly 300 million.

The total investment poured into Africa over thepast decade was 500 billion USD, he said, adding that the potential in thesouthern African region, especially the MSMEs sector, is extremely huge.

Vice Chairman of the Vietnam-Africa Friendshipand Cooperation Association Do Duc Dinh said MSMEs play a crucial role in theprocess of development in Vietnam as well as in African countries.

Such firms account for up to 95 percent of thetotal businesses in Vietnam, he highlighted, adding that they make significantcontributions to economic development and job generation.

Vietnam is willing to be friend and reliablepartner of all nations in the global community, he said, adding that theSoutheast Asian country attaches great importance to developing relations withcountries around the world, including African countries and those from the SADC.

The establishment of the association in November2004 has contributed to promoting friendship, mutual understanding, andcultural exchanges between African and Vietnamese people.

He suggested stronger cooperation in the fieldsof people-to-people exchanges, economy-trade, culture, and tourism.

During the workshop, participants looked into preferentialpolicies of the Vietnamese Government to develop MSMEs.

The event was jointly held by VUFO and Africanembassies in Vietnam on the occasion of the 38th founding anniversary of theSADC.-VNA

VNA