HCM City wants to enhance cooperation with South Africa in trade, investment, education, science and technology, hi-tech agriculture and other spheres, according to its Department of Foreign Affairs.
Speaking at a ceremony held on April 21 to celebrate South Africa’s 24th Freedom Day, Le Quang Long, the department’s director, said: “With open policies, HCM City always welcomes and facilitates foreign enterprises, including those from South Africa, to do business.”
The South African ambassador to Vietnam, Mpetjane Kgaogelo Lekgoro, said: “In recent years we have enjoyed high-level visits from both sides. Our trade grew from just over $700 million in 2012 to over $1.5 billion in 2017.
“The tourism footprint is continuing to grow between the two countries as both South Africans and Vietnamese begin to discover one another’s traditional, cultural and historical heritage.”
Long said the two sides have expressed determination to increase trade to $2 billion a year soon.
At the ceremony, South Africa’s honorary consul in HCM City, Do Thi Kim Lien, donated over VND5 billion ($219,300) to the provinces and cities of Hau Giang, Tay Ninh, Ben Tre, Hoa Binh, Dien Bien, HCM City, and Hanoi for building houses for poor people and social welfare beneficiaries and a kindergarten and a cultural house, providing scholarships to disadvantaged children and supporting underprivileged people.
This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
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