Pretoria (VNA) – The capital city of Hanoi has introduced its investment, trade and tourism cooperation opportunities to partners in Africa in general and South Africa in particular at a conference held in Pretoria on October 29.

Highlighting the collaboration potential between Hanoi and South African partners and localities in investment, trade and tourism, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the municipal Party Committee said that Hanoi always attaches importance to and is ready to create the best conditions for South African businesses and investors who are interested in investing in the city.

Many delegates of South Africa expressed their interest in cooperation opportunities with Hanoi in particular and Vietnam in general.

At the event, commercial products, key craft villages, unique cultural and tourist destinations, and attractive cuisine of Hanoi were introduced, drawing great attention of South African partners.

Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency's resident correspondents in Pretoria, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Duong Duc Tuan said that the event spotlighted the great potential of cooperation between Hanoi and South Africa in investment, trade and tourism.

A highlight of the event was the introduction of tourism collaboration opportunities between the two sides, he said, adding that this cooperation will help the two sides expand partnership in aviation and culture.

President of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mtho Xulu expressed his hope to promote cooperation potential with Hanoi in particular and Vietnam in general, especially in mining, agricultural processing, ICT technology development and services.

He underlined the need to explore the specific opportunities that exist in tourism to exploit the diverse culture of South Africa, Hanoi and Vietnam. The South African side suggested that the two sides should discuss how to develop and commercialise the cultural assets, as well as ways and means of innovation and the use of intellectual property.

Statistics showed that Hanoi exported 23.4 million USD worth of goods to South Africa in 2023 and 18.8 million USD in the first nine months of this year. Meanwhile, the city imported 116.9 million USD worth of products from South Africa in 2023 and 487.4 million USD in the Jan-Sept period of 2024.

﷽ Since March 2022 when the Vietnamese Government resumed international tourism after the COVID-19 pandemic was controlled, the number of visitors from South Africa to Hanoi has been increasing every month, hitting 7,047 in 2023, 2.3 times higher than that in 2022, and 8,360 in the first 10 months of 2024, an increase of 67.3% over the same period last year./.