Photo: sggp

The Vietnam embassy in South Africa and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Johannesburg (JCCI) have worked together to promote trade activities of both nations through a seminar held on July 25.

Addressing the seminar, Vietnam Ambassador to South Africa Le Huy Hoang highlighted great opportunities to deepen the two sides’ all-around cooperation, especially in economics and trade.

Two-way trade between Vietnam and South Africa reached over 1 billion USD in 2013, a 20-fold rise compared to the 54 million USD figure recorded in 2002.

Hoang expressed hope that the seminar will provide a fresh impetus to promoting bilateral economic and trade partnership.

JCCI President Fay Mukaddam stated that JCCI will do its utmost to boost investment and trade between the two nations.

According to Tran Quang Huy, director of the African and West and South Asian Market Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that Africa has become a great potential market for Vietnamese goods.

In the future, apart from traditional goods such as farm produce and seafood, garment and textile, footwear, Vietnam aims to boost exports of mobile phones, computers, and electronics components to the lucrative market.

Meanwhile, South Africa can provide Vietnam with minerals, wood products and cotton, Huy said.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in South Africa, Vietnam’s Trade Councilor in South Africa Nguyen Hong Tien said that the seminar offered an opportunity for businesses to utilise their advantages and learn more about necessary formalities to enhance their future cooperation.

Source: VNA