As part of their ongoing working trips to South Africa to promote tourism and investment there, a delegation of Da Nang's leaders, led by municipal Permanent Party Committee Deputy Secretary Vo Cong Tri, visited the Embassy of Viet Nam in Pretoria, South Africa.

Deputy Secretary Tri (right) and Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Vu Van Dung

The Da Nang visitors burnt incense sticks in memory of late President Tran Dai Quang and wrote in his funeral guest book at the Embassy.

On behalf of the delegation, Deputy Secretary Tri wished all of the Embassy’s staff good health and fulfilling their assigned tasks well.

He also introduced to his city’s great potential for investment activities and tourism development. He took the opportunity to ask for help from the Embassy of Viet Nam there to help his city connect with businesses and localities in South Africa.

In reply, Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Vu Van Dung pledged that he and all the Embassy’s staff would do their utmost to promote the bilateral trade cooperation between Da Nang and South Africa which is considered one of main tasks of current economic diplomacy activities.

Discussing on specific measures, the Vietnamese diplomat suggested that Da Nang should invite South African businesses to visit the city to seek cooperation opportunities because the city boasts its rapid economic growth, and transparent and potential investment environment.

He said Viet Nam welcomes around 5,000 visitors from South Africa every year, and the figure is likely to increase year after year. Therefore, he highlighted the importance of making better preparations by the city for welcoming foreign visitors, especially those from South Africa who show keen interested in discovering local cuisines.

Mr Dung highly praised the visit made by the Da Nang delegation, vowing to help the city promote its tourism and investment activities in South Africa.

Also in Pretoria, the Da Nang guests had working sessions with representatives of the South African Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and businesses in Johannesburg and Pretoria cities.

Deputy Secretary Tri (right) and Mr Medileke Ramushu

During these meetings, the Da Nang leaders introduced their city’s strategic position in Viet Nam’s politics, economy, culture and society, along with its socio-economic situation, to their South African partners. They affirmed that Da Nang and Pretoria shared many similarities in their plans for becoming economic, financial and commercial hubs in their regions, as well as in investment potential in such aspects as rubber, information technology, tourism, and logistics.    

In reply, Mr Medileke Ramushu, Head of the DTI’s relations with Asia division, highly spoke Da Nang for its great potential, noting that both countries have young population, growing tourist numbers, and complementary agricultural products.

He underlined the bilateral trade turnover between South Africa and Viet Nam hit about 900 million USD last year. He emphasised the figure was still lower than expected.

He, therefore, voiced his hope for chances to boost trade and investment ties, plus cooperation relations, in various fields with Da Nang, and Viet Nam as a whole, in the years ahead. Top priority should be given to organising numerous investment, trade and tourism promotion activities in both countries, especially in Da Nang and Johannesburg cities.

On behalf of the Da Nang delegation, Deputy Secretary Tri stressed the need for Da Nang and Johannesburg governments to exchange their cooperative information, and connect their businesses to promote the bilateral trade, investment and tourism cooperation.

Mr Tri also vowed that the local authorities would create very favourable conditions for South African businesses to invest and operate in the city effectively. Also, he took the opportunity to invite DTI’s leaders and Johannesburg businesses to visit and seek investment opportunities in his city.