On April 28th, 2023, the delegation of the Northern Cape and South African Embassy visited and worked with Hai Phong People’s Committee. This was an important activity in the delegation’s working schedule in Hai Phong, led by Mr. Zamani Saul, Governor of the Northern Cape with participation of leaders’ representatives of sectors of economic development, industry, agriculture, tourism, trade, and attendance of the Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa in Viet Nam and members of the Embassy. Chairman of Hai Phong City People’s Committee chaired the meeting with delegation with participation of relevant departments: Foreign Affairs, Planning and Investment, Trade and Industry, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Office of the City People’s Committee.
Overview of the meeting. Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs
Welcoming the delegation of the Northern Cape and Embassy of the Republic of Southern Africa in Viet Nam to spend time and work in Hai Phong, Chairman of the City People’s Committee shared information about the fields in which the city has advantages and experiences, particularly port system, transportation services, logistics, and its outstanding features in location, diverse transport infrastructure connection, especially the Lach Huyen deep-water port with ability to handle big vessels and directly delivery goods to markets in the Europe and Northern America, and Cat Bi international airport with direct flights to localities in Korea, China, Japan. In terms of industrial development, the city has Dinh Vu – Cat Hai economic zone with an area of more than 20,000 ha, with incentive policies issued by the Central Government to call for foreign investment. Currently, the city has over 850 foreign direct investment projects of investors from 43 countries and territories around the world. Regarding the province competitiveness index, the city ranked the 3rd out of 63 provinces and cities in the country, proving that Hai Phong has made great efforts in improving public administrative services, tightening cooperation and creating favorable conditions for investors when coming to investment and do business in the city. 
Chairman of Hai Phong City People’s Committee informed about the city’s advantages. Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs.
Impressed by the development of Hai Phong City, the Governor of the Northern Cape expressed the specific interests of the Northern Cape in cooperation with Vietnamese partners in general, Hai Phong’s partners in particular, in terms of maritime, trade, deep-water port facility development. The Governor especially mentioned the Northern Cape’s advantages in mining, agriculture, and desire to boost up tourism; the Northern Cape is building a deep-water port, hence, the Northern Cape would like to learn practical experiences and expertise in construction and operation of the deep-water port. The Governor also informed that the delegation of the Northern Cape had a meeting with Viet Nam Maritime University on the morning of April 28th, 2023, and the initial result was that in September 2023, 10 young students from the Northern Cape will come and study marine economics at the Viet Nam Maritime University.
Chairman of Hai Phong City People’s Committee offered a souvenir of Hai Phong City to the Ambassador of South Africa in Viet Nam. Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs
In response to the delegation’s interests, the Chairman of Hai Phong City People Committee informed the city’s strengths in wet-rice agriculture, while green vegetables and industry crops account for a small proportion. In the field of livestock, pigs and chickens are main products of the city. In the present, the city has applied modern technology in agricultural sector and has brought positive results. The Chairman of the City People’s Committee suggested the delegation consider researching and learning customs and handling of export and import procedures online. In port system construction and operation, the Chairman of the City People’s Committee raised a suggestion that the delegation consider exchanging professional delegations on construction and operation of different types of port according to specific deep-water ports in order to optimize their searching and learning. With more than 40 ports in the city, Hai Phong is willing to facilitate the partners in learning practical experiences of Hai Phong City. The Chairman of the City People’s Committee expected that Governor of the Northern Cape and Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to Viet Nam would come to Hai Phong City in the coming time.
Leaders of the City took a photo with the delegation of the Northern Cape and the Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa. Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs
The Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to Viet Nam expressed her gratitude for the effective cooperation of the Department of Foreign Affairs, and other relevant departments and agencies for arranging the official working of the Northern Cape and the Embassy’s delegation to Hai Phong City. Under the framework of 30th anniversary of diplomatic establishment between Viet Nam and Southern Africa, the official visit of the Northern Cape and Southern African Embassy to Viet Nam opened delegation exchanges between the two countries in the year of 2023. The Ambassador emphasized the interests of Northern Cape’s partners in particular, South African partners in general, in terms of maritime, trade, seaport infrastructure; and wanted this official visit would open new cooperation opportunities between South Africa and Hai Phong City./.