On Wednesday, a seminar entitled ‘Promoting Viet Nam and South Africa Bilateral Trade, Investment, and Tourism Activities’ took place in Da Nang.  It was jointly organised by the Da Nang branch of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), and the South African Embassy in Viet Nam.

Also present at the event were municipal People’s Committee Vice Chairman Tran Van Mien, and South African Ambassador to Viet Nam Kgomotso Ruth Magau.

Addressing the seminar, Vice Chairman Mien highlighted the significance of the event in creating closer links between Da Nang and Western Cape Provincial businesspeople, as well as fostering the bilateral cooperation between Viet Nam and South Africa.  He noted that the seminar provided a great opportunity for Da Nang and Western Cape Provincial businesspeople to learn about local investment environment, potential, strengths and development orientations, of their partners.

Mr Mien vowed that the city authorities would create very favourable conditions for businesses from South Africa to invest and operate effectively in the city.  He hoped that the authorities of Western Cape Province, and South Africa as a whole, would give even more assistances to the city.

Currently, only 5 of the city’s businesses are exporting their products to South Africa.  The main products include outdoor wooden tables and chairs, rattan and bamboo handicrafts, clothes, fabrics and children toys.

Although Vietnamese products are suitable the tastes of South African people, they have not yet been popular amongst South African consumers due to the lack of mutual information exchanges between Vietnamese and South African businesses.