PROMOTING TRADE COOPERATION BETWEEN VIETNAM AND SOUTH AFRICA

On the afternoon of April 26, the South African Honorary Consular Office in Ho Chi Minh City and the Vietnam General Association of Agriculture and Rural Development (Agriculture and Rural Development) signed a memorandum of cooperation on promoting trade. between the two countries, especially agricultural products, in order to restore and strengthen the Vietnam-South Africa cooperation relationship in the post-Covid-19 period.

Previously, on the occasion of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement of the National Message of 2022 (SONA 2022) and participation in sideline activities organized by the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (DIRCO) from August 8 On February 12, Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Hoang Van Loi visited and worked with Mr. Supra Mahumapelo - Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the South African National Assembly and Ms. Candish Mashego-Dlamini, Deputy Minister of DIRCO in charge of the region. Asia-Africa and Middle East, exchange measures to promote bilateral relations.

Deputy Minister Dlamini said that, at the 5th session of the Vietnam-South Africa Partnership Forum scheduled to take place in 2022, the two sides need to focus on discussing and agreeing on specific measures and initiatives to do this. further deepen bilateral relations; expanding and diversifying economic-trade relations, first of all in fields where the two sides have great potentials and strengths such as agriculture, trade in agricultural and mineral products, cooperation in farming and fishing seafood, supporting industries for automobile manufacturing, cooperation in tourism, education, etc.

To prepare for a number of trade promotion activities, product introductions, and business seminars in the coming time, when both countries are fully open and economic activities return to normal, the Consulate General Attending South Africa in Ho Chi Minh City signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the General Association of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam to create more opportunities for businesses of the two countries to learn and cooperate in the field of agriculture.

Accordingly, the Vietnam General Association of Agriculture and Rural Development will coordinate with the Consulate of South Africa to organize trade promotion programs, product introductions, business seminars, field trips, etc. The two sides' businesses have more channels to access the market and more importantly, find reputable and capable partners in import and export activities.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ms. Do Lien, Honorary Consul of the Republic of South Africa in Ho Chi Minh City, commented: “Currently, the Covid-19 epidemic situation is under control. I believe this is the time for businesses of the two countries to strongly promote trade, especially agricultural products. No matter how developed the economy, agriculture still plays an important role related to the survival of a country. The Covid-19 pandemic has further demonstrated the importance of food security and the special role of the agricultural sector, local and global agricultural supply chains. The recovery of economic strength of countries in the post-Covid-19 period depends very much on the development of the agricultural sector.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Quang, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam General Association of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the Vietnam General Association of Agriculture and Rural Development with thousands of members, including many large-scale agricultural enterprises, will be cooperate well in trade promotion activities, thereby, exploiting the maximum potential of agricultural enterprises of the two countries.