Vietnam, South Africa eye closer ties in maritime transport
Vietnam-South Afric trade has yet to meet its full potential, said Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Le Huy Hoang at a forum aiming to enhance ties between the two countries inmaritime transport.
Pretoria (VNA)💮 – Trade between Vietnam and South Africa has yet to meet its full potential, said Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Le Huy Hoang at a forum aiming to enhance cooperation between the two countries in maritime transport held by the Vietnamese Embassy in South Africa in Pretoria on April 19.
Addressing the event, Hoang said the forum provided a platform for enterprises in South Africa to learn about the maritime transport industry in Vietnam in line with the country’s efforts to attract foreign investment.
Two-way trade reached around 1.2 billion USD last year, far below the potential figure largely due to high transport costs, the ambassador said.
Hoang urged for closer partnerships between shipping and logistics companies of the two sides to boost trade.
At the forum, general director of the Saigon Newport Corporation (SNP) Nguyen Dang Nghiem gave attendees a snapshot of the firm’s long-term strategy and policies towards international cooperation.
He stressed the company’s great enthusiasm for expanding a network of global partners, including those in South Africa, in the fields of not only sea transport and logistics but also import-export, infrastructure development and real estate.
Dinh Xuan Thao, head of the National Assembly’s Legislative Research Institute discussed the efforts of Vietnam’s NA, Government and related agencies to improve legal frameworks and regulations to aid the country’s economic development and global integration.
State agencies and enterprises from both sides discussed ways to stimulate bilateral collaboration in maritime transport.
Maphefo Anno-Frempong, head of Transport, Education and Training Authority (TETA) of South Africa proposed the two countries sign an agreement on personnel training for the industry.
The Vietnamese Embassy also took the occasion to promote Vietnam’s agricultural products and seafood, including Trung Nguyen Coffee, tra fish and fragrant rice to enterprises in South Africa.-VNA
Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Bac Son, accompanied by executives of Vietnam’s top telecom companies, are on a visit to South Africa from October 16-18.
Supporting Vietnam to implement and duplicate smart agricultural models adaptive to climate change was the main focus of a workshop between Vietnamese and Dutch experts held in Hanoi on October 28.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways was born as a perfect piece in Sun Group’s strategic vision to build a premium ecosystem of tourism, entertainment, real estate, and aviation. With a pioneering ambition, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is not just an airline, but a symbol of connection – bringing the world to Phu Quoc and taking Phu Quoc to the world.
A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
Outcomes of ABAC III will shape ABAC’s final policy recommendations to be submitted to the ABAC-APEC leaders’ dialogue, scheduled to take place in the Republic of Korea this November.
This is the second year the magazine has released the ranking, which is based on total revenue and key financial indicators of enterprises from seven countries in the region: Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Cambodia.
At the summit, publishing, tech, and media sectors will discuss emerging trends, business models, and sustainable solutions for digital publishing development in Vietnam.
This year’s “Vietnam Goods Week” marks a significant milestone as it is being held simultaneously for the first time in four locations across Asia: Japan, Hong Kong (China), Cambodia, and Malaysia, from June 19 - 22.
According to NordCham Vietnam Chairman Thue Quist Thomasen, the Vietnamese Government’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 is both a challenge and an opportunity for businesses to contribute to green and sustainable growth.
A view at the forum. (Photo: VNA)
