Fifteen Vietnamese enterprises have made a success at an international
trade exhibition in Johannesburg, South Africa, by attracting much
interest and reaching deals with foreign investors.
The 21st Southern African International Trade Exhibition (SAITEX),
which concluded on June 24, drew the participation of 900 businesses
from 45 countries across the globe.
Among those
interested in Vietnamese commodities was Durban-based Megacorp Trading,
which specialises in importing consumer goods for sale at supermarkets
in South Africa.
Its executive Prem Sadhwani
expressed his willingness to sign a contract importing Vietnamese rice
and open a representative office in the country to expand the firm’s
ties with local businesses.
A Vietnamese
entrepreneur in Swaziland, Phan Thi Nhung said people from this country
favour Vietnamese imports and suggested Vietnamese firms to set up
pavilions at an international fair in the African country this August.
On this occasion, a representative of the Botswana
Trade and Investment Centre invited Vietnam to attend a trade fair in
the capital city of Gaborone this November.
Officials from the embassies of Thailand, India and Pakistan in South
Africa described Vietnamese businesses’ participation at the event as a
success.
Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of
Industry and Trade Phan Tien Binh said high interest from foreign
businesspeople demonstrated a major opportunity for Vietnamese goods to
make their way to African markets, adding that he will order the
municipal department to be more active in promoting trade in this
region.
Meanwhile, Vietnamese Ambassador to South
Africa Le Huy Hoang said there is plenty of room for trade with South
Africa as well as regional nations, promising more trade promotion
activities to be held across South Africa.
He noted
enterprises need to further make use of Vietnam’s representative
agencies abroad to advertise their brands and learn about local
consumers’ taste.
They should also invite African
firms to make market surveys in Vietnam and work to beef up long-term
partnership, Hoang added.-VNA