Speaking at the awards ceremony held in Hanoi on August 1, MOLISA Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Hoa commended and thanked Forster for IOM’s great contributions to labour migration, counter trafficking, and migration management in Vietnam.
For his part, Forster said that he witnessed positive changes in Vietnam’s development during the time he stayed in the country.
He also noted with pleasure that IOM has developed over the past 27 years a strong and trusted relationship with the Government and the people of Vietnam, stressing that Vietnam is today one of IOM’s big member states.
Taking the position in September 2009, Forster made every effort to support and co-operate with relevant Vietnamese ministries and sectors, including the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) in managing migrant workers, preventing and combating human traffic, and helping trafficking victims reintegrate into the community.
Particularly IOM, and Forster personally, worked closely with MOLISA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the safe evacuation and return of more than 10,500 Vietnamese migrant workers from Libya in 2011.
IOM started its operations in Vietnam in 1987, and Vietnam became a full member of the organisation in 2007.
