Vietnam, southern African countries share experience in developing MSMEs

Vietnam has plenty of experience in developing micro, small- and medium-sized enterprise (MSMEs) which Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries could learn from, said South African Ambassador to Vietnam Phi Mpetjane Kgaogelo Lekgoro at a workshop in Hanoi on August 17.

The workshop creates a venue for African embassies in Vietnam and the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) to explore future cooperation opportunities, he added.

He pledged to support the VUFO to connect with MSMEs to implement different projects between African nations and Vietnam.

Established in 1992, the SADC now has 15 members with a combined population of nearly 300 million.

The total investment poured into Africa over the past decade was US$500 billion, he said, adding that the potential in the southern African region, especially the MSMEs sector, is extremely huge.

Vice Chairman of the Vietnam-Africa Friendship and Cooperation Association Do Duc Dinh said MSMEs play a crucial role in the process of development in Vietnam as well as in African countries.

Such firms account for up to 95% of the total businesses in Vietnam, he highlighted, adding that they make significant contributions to economic development and job generation.

Vietnam is willing to be friend and reliable partner of all nations in the global community, he said, adding that the Southeast Asian country attaches great importance to developing relations with countries around the world, including African countries and those from the SADC.

The establishment of the association in November 2004 has contributed to promoting friendship, mutual understanding, and cultural exchanges between African and Vietnamese people.

He suggested stronger cooperation in the fields of people-to-people exchanges, economy-trade, culture, and tourism.

During the workshop, participants looked into preferential policies of the Vietnamese Government to develop MSMEs.

The event was jointly held by VUFO and African embassies in Vietnam on the occasion of the 38th founding anniversary of the SADC.