Foreign Ministry holds Vietnam - Africa Trade and Investment seminar
WVR - On November 6, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the occasion of the non-resident African Ambassadors presenting their credentials to General Secretary, President To Lam, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized the Vietnam - Africa trade and investment seminar.
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The seminar focused on in-depth discussions about trade and investment connection opportunities among representatives from 16 Vietnamese associations and enterprises in fields such as food, seafood, tea, coffee, cashew nuts, textiles, chemicals, mining, mechanics, machinery manufacturing, digital technology, telecommunications, processing technology, electric vehicles... who are highly interested in the African market, along with representatives from the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), ambassadors, and numerous representatives from Morocco, Mozambique, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Guinea, Mauritania, Algeria, Nigeria, Libya. The seminar also featured online participation from all Vietnamese Ambassadors in Africa.
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| Overview of Seminar. (Photo: Chu An) |
In her opening remarks, Ms. Nguyen Phuong Tra, Director General of the Middle East - Africa Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reiterated the loyal and trustworthy relationship between Vietnam and African countries and emphasized the role and importance of Africa in the future development of the world. The Director General affirmed the high interest of key leaders, senior leaders, and the determination of ministries and sectors to accompany Vietnamese enterprises in deeper, stronger, and more connected cooperation with African economies for the practical benefits of businesses and contributing to the country's double-digit growth target.
A representative from the Department of Economic Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shared insights on Vietnam's economic potential, future policy directions, and some interests of Vietnamese enterprises in cooperating with African countries, highlighting the requirements for transparency in legal policies, mechanisms ensuring stable investment and business, convenient cross-border payment capabilities, skilled labor standards... from host countries in Africa.
Sharing with the African Ambassadors visiting Vietnam for the first time to present their credentials, Ambassador of Morocco Jamale Chouaibi, Head of the Diplomatic Corps, Head of the African Ambassadors Group in Vietnam, highlighted Vietnam's potential, strengths, and strong development, especially in the current period. The Ambassador proposed promoting the establishment of the Africa - Vietnam Chamber of Commerce, organizing regular Africa - Vietnam Forums, and enhancing the organization of direct and online connection events like today.
Ambassador of Mozambique Ilundi Dos Santos emphasized that with the strong development achievements in recent times, Vietnam is an unmatched partner in accompanying, supporting, and sharing experiences with African countries.
Ambassador of Angola Fernando Miguel shared that to maintain sustainable connectivity and partnership, African countries not only want to enhance trade cooperation but also hope for more Vietnamese enterprises to venture and invest in Africa.
Affirming the friendly and cooperative relationship with Vietnam, Ambassadors of Benin Franck E.W. Adjagba, Botswana Lenkoko Sylvester Kenosi, Guinea Louncény Condé, and Mauritania Lucy Njeri Kiruthu highlighted the potential, strengths, preferential policies, and cooperation needs in various fields, particularly agriculture, agricultural processing, mining, infrastructure development, healthcare, technology, tourism...
The Ambassador of Benin shared that the government offers very favorable policies such as 17 years of tax exemption and business establishment permits within 3 days. Emphasizing the foundational relationship between the two countries when Guinea was the first African country to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam, the Ambassador of Guinea expressed a desire to cooperate with Vietnamese enterprises in bauxite and iron ore extraction and processing. The Ambassador of Botswana sees Vietnam as a strong partner in the agricultural modernization process in Botswana. The Ambassador of Mauritania wishes to promote cooperation in fisheries, food production, and processing.
Appreciating the practical significance of the seminar, representatives of Vietnamese associations and enterprises proposed various measures to promote cooperation between the two sides.
The Vietnam Food Association, with an existing trade cooperation foundation, is ready to bring Vietnamese food products deeper and more diversely into African markets. The chemical corporation suggested that African Ambassadors continue to maintain contact and support favorable procedures in promoting the import of raw materials and minerals from African countries.
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| Delegates take a commemorative photo. (Photo: Chu An) |
The Bac Ninh City Industrial Production Association exchanged feedback with the Ambassadors on some advanced technologies with suitable costs, such as high-tech agricultural product preservation without chemicals, pineapple processing technology, a strong product of Benin.
Other opinions also highlighted cooperation opportunities in both the supply channel of input materials and the investment potential in new fields. A representative from VCCI affirmed the effort and desire to accompany businesses from both countries in the process of seeking and promoting cooperation, effectively exploiting the potential and strengths of Vietnam and African countries...
At the end of the seminar, the delegates interacted and agreed to maintain close communication channels and enhance cooperation to transform the potential and strengths of both sides into specific contracts and cooperation projects.
