Prime Minister: Vietnam can help ensure food security for South Africa

VTV.vn - The Prime Minister said that Vietnam is ready to welcome South African investors to exchange experiences and promote in-depth, mutually beneficial economic, trade and investment relations.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives Vice President of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry Neil Pollock - Photo: VGP

On the morning of November 21 (local time, afternoon of the same day Hanoi time), during his participation in the G20 Summit and bilateral activities in South Africa, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Vice President of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry Neil Pollock.

At the meeting, the Prime Minister assessed that the Vietnam-South Africa relationship is very good. He said that during this visit, the two sides are expected to upgrade their relationship; and asked the business community to contribute to promoting the relationship between the two countries in the spirit of a creative State, pioneering enterprises, public-private partnership, national development, and prosperous and happy people.

The Prime Minister said that Vietnam is prioritizing macroeconomic stability, controlling inflation, ensuring major balances, and ensuring the foundation for rapid and sustainable growth; GDP in 2025 is expected to grow by about 8% and double digits in the following years.

In particular, Vietnam promotes public-private cooperation, considering the private economy as the most important driving force of the national economy; focuses on promoting 3 strategic breakthroughs (turning institutions into national competitive advantages, infrastructure breakthroughs and governance and human resource training breakthroughs); transforming the growth model based on science and technology, innovation, digital transformation...

The Prime Minister said that Vietnam is ready to welcome South African investors to exchange experiences and promote economic, trade and investment relations in a more in-depth, substantive, diverse, effective and mutually beneficial manner - Photo: VGP

South Africa is currently Vietnam's largest trading partner and export market in Africa. Total bilateral trade turnover in 2024 is expected to reach 1.72 billion USD.

On the basis of good political relations and the huge potential for economic cooperation between the two countries, the Prime Minister invited leaders of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry and businesses to visit Vietnam soon to witness Vietnam's development, encourage and call on South African businesses to invest in Vietnam, and Vietnam also encourages businesses to invest in South Africa.

Vietnam is ready to welcome South African investors to exchange experiences, promote economic, trade and investment relations to become more in-depth, substantial, diverse, effective, and mutually beneficial, with the spirit of "giving is the most lasting" as stated by Mr. Neil Pollock, especially investing in areas where both sides have potential and strengths such as agricultural production, mining, oil and gas; exchanging Vietnam's strong products such as electronics, textiles, footwear, fruits, etc.

Vice President of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry Neil Pollock highly appreciated Vietnam's growth rate and strong development - Photo: VGP

The Prime Minister said that Vietnam has 17 FTAs ​​with more than 60 leading economies in the world; at the same time, Vietnam has agricultural strengths, such as having a type of rice that has won the world's best rice award three times. Vietnamese enterprises can invest in South Africa and export on the spot, thereby supporting food security for South Africa and exploiting the market of more than 1 billion people in Africa.

For his part, Vice President of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry Neil Pollock highly appreciated Vietnam's growth rate and strong development in the context of regional and global instability; and also appreciated the leadership role of the two countries in turning commitments into actions.

He also said that the two countries share many common values ​​in culture and history; Vietnam has strengths in agricultural products, especially Vietnamese rice which is "the best in the world" while South Africa uses more and more rice. The two countries also have great potential to promote tourism, if you want to understand Asian culture, you have to come to Vietnam.

He affirmed that South Africa can learn many lessons from Vietnam's experience and South African businesses can also learn from Vietnamese businesses.

He suggested that the two governments strengthen connectivity, South African businesses will contribute to promoting economic, trade and investment relations, and is ready to work with Vietnamese partners, exploiting the remaining great opportunities for mutual development and believes that this process will be very quick.

Source: https://vtv.vn/thu-tuong-viet-nam-co-the-ho-tro-bao-dam-an-ninh-luong-thuc-cho-nam-phi-100251121183148823.htm