Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien met with South African Ambassador Mpetjane Kgaogelo Lekgoro on April 2, saying that Vietnam is now in urgent need of diversifying coal supply sources as it is promoting post-pandemic economic recovery.
The meeting between Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and South African Ambassador Mpetjane Kgaogelo Lekgoro on April 2 (Photo: congthuong.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien met with SouthAfrican Ambassador Mpetjane Kgaogelo Lekgoro on April 2, saying that Vietnam isnow in urgent need of diversifying coal supply sources as it is promotingpost-pandemic economic recovery.
At theworking session in Hanoi, Dien noted despite the COVID-19 pandemic, tradebetween the two countries remains stable, at over 1.39 billion USD. SouthAfrica is currently the largest trade partner and export market of Vietnam inAfrica.
The two sideshold much potential and room for increasing bilateral trade in the time ahead,he went on.
Highlyvaluing South Africa’s coal mining and export capacity, the minister proposed theambassador help connect potential South African partners in the coal andmineral sector with major enterprises of Vietnam such as the Vietnam National Coal- Mineral Industries Group and the Vietnam Electricity Group so that coal canbe delivered to the Southeast Asian country right in April and May.
Coal mined in South Africa has high quality and suits the technologies used at power plants and manufacturing industries of Vietnam, according to him.
He expressedhis hope that the two sides will consider and soon ink a memorandum ofunderstanding on cooperation in the mineral sector, adding that this memorandumwill create a framework for boosting not only the partnership in this industry butalso bilateral trade.
The host also pointed out some cooperation focuses for 2022, including holdingthe 5th meeting of the joint trade committee, increasing thepresence of Vietnamese goods at South African supermarkets, and stepping up cooperationin mining, metallurgy, textile - garment, and fertiliser production.
For his part,Ambassador Lekgoro affirmed that his country always attaches importance to andwishes to further intensify trade, energy, and mineral relations with Vietnam.
He said hewill work closely with the Vietnamese ministry and relevant agencies of SouthAfrica to handle the issues Dien mentioned.
The diplomatalso asked Vietnam to create favourable conditions for his country’s strongproducts to access the local market./.
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The meeting between Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and South African Ambassador Mpetjane Kgaogelo Lekgoro on April 2 (Photo: congthuong.vn) 
