Ambassador Vuyiswa Tulelo: South Africa is willing and open to best practices at P4G 2025 Summit

Ambassador of South Africa to Vietnam Vuyiswa Tulelo affirms that there are many opportunities for the two countries to collaborate and share experiences on mitigating the impacts of climate change and developing renewable energy in an inclusive, people-centered manner. (Source: South African Embassy in Vietnam)

What are your assessment on potential cooperation between Vietnam and South Africa based on core agenda of P4G?

Whilst South Africa is actively engaging with the Vietnam counterparts on bilateral memorandum of understanding on other mutually agreed areas of cooperation, South Africa also acknowledges the proactive approach which Vietnam has taken with specific reference to Vietnam Startup Ecosystem Outlook.

Within the broader objectives of the P4G Programme, South Africa is willing and open to best practices in advancing the cadre of green MSMEs. Access to funds has been seen as a challenge for MSMEs. South Africa would be open to engagement on innovative financing facilities which could be taken up within the South African environment.

As is widely known, South Africa is pursuing the JETP. This would be a potential area of collaboration, as Vietnam has also signalled its intention to also embark on a similar initiative. This would also align well with the P4G Programme as SDG 7 – Renewable energy, is a priority SDG for P4G South Africa.

According to the global SDGs index ranking published in 2024, Vietnam scored 73.32 and ranked 54th out of 166 countries assessed. (Source: Green Edu)

What are your thoughts on the opportunities for South African businesses participating in public-private partnership projects within the P4G framework in Vietnam?

The Partnering for Green Growth and Global Goals responds to addressing implementation of SDGs, more specifically, SDG 2, 6 and 7 under Phase 2, for South Africa. The Programme has provided access to grant finance for MSMEs, more specifically advancing green enterprise development.

The Programme also encourages MSMEs with access to technical expertise and potential to also apply for scale up finances. The global exposure of MSMEs through participation in webinars and summits, positioning South Africa as a market player in the green space.

The implications in the medium to long term is that we are building a cadre of green enterprises which may become medium to large enterprises in the long term and subsequently contributing to a low carbon and inclusive pathway for South Africa.

South Africa is one of the pioneering countries in green technology and sustainable development. Could you please share South Africa’s practices and policies in promoting climate change mitigation, renewable energy with inclusive, people-centered approaches that could be applied in Vietnam?

South Africa established the Presidential Climate Commission, in the 6th administration. During the 6th administration, in 2021, South Africa’s Just Energy Transition was officially launched at the UNFCCC COP26. At the commencement of the 7th administration, South Africa promulgated the National Climate Change Act, in June 2024.

The JET Investment Plan which was officially launched, aims to support South Africa’s low carbon economy and climate resilient society through: creating quality jobs, increasing the country’s energy security, addressing the risks of climate change and boosting economic growth.

The International Partnership Group (IPG) comprises of France, Germany, United Kingdom, the European Union, and the USA. Other countries which are equally involved in support the JETP include Netherlands, Kingdom of Denmark, Spain, Canada and Switzerland, all committed to advancing South Africa’s energy transition away from a fossil fuel driven economy, through addressing the electricity sector, green hydrogen and new energy vehicles.

The JETP is committed to a just transition which is inclusive of addressing the engagement and participation of marginalized groups and support to MSMEs through skills development, access to finance, capacity development, value chain for new and emerging business opportunities.

After South Africa and Indonesia, Vietnam is the third country to reach an agreement to establish the JETP program. (Source: Getty)

G20 aim to promote strong sustainable and inclusive growth. As such, South Africa's current G20 Presidency theme is: "Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability." There are four strategic foreign policy pillars that pave the way for South Africa’s participation in the G20, namely i) advancing national interest to attain domestic objectives; ii) enhancing the African agenda and promoting Africa’s sustainable development; iii) South-South cooperation; iv) influencing the global multilateral architecture by advancing the agenda of the South through North-South dialogue.

South Africa’s participation in the G20 therefore seeks to provide strategic direction in establishing a more equitable, representative and fit-for-purpose international order, in support of the main multilateral processes under the United Nations.

South Africa has and will continue to play an important role in promoting the interests of the developing world in its engagement within the G20 and will endeavour to ensure that G20 remains sensitive to the needs of the emerging markets and developing countries of Africa and that of Global South.

There is opportunity to collaborate and share knowledge related to climate change mitigation, renewable energy with inclusivity, through the adoption of a people-centred approach. Bilateral engagements between South Africa and Vietnam to advance South-South cooperation, in the earlier-mentioned areas may be explored.

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