The Vietnamese Government on December 4 agreed to General Director of the AAA Assurance Corporation Do Thi Kim Lien to become the Republic of South Africa’s honorary consul to Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam Business Forum’s reporter Quang Dai had an interview with Ms Lien on this occasion.
How have you been nominated to the South Africa’s honorary consul to Ho Chi Minh City?
I was incidentally selected from the South African government’s list for the position. The friendship relationship between Vietnam and South Africa has been set up for dozens of years, but the trade promotion is not a par with the two countries’ potential. Currently the exchange of goods between Vietnam and South Africa must still be through the third nation. The travel between the two countries meets with lots of difficulties, particularly from Ho Chi Minh City which concentrates numerous opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises and their partners in the region and the world. Thus, it is necessary to open an honorary consulate and its office in Vietnam’s southern city.
Choosing an outbound representative for the nation is not a simple thing. My record as well as the AAA Assurance’s operation has carefully been studied. The choice, of course, has been built on many elements because I myself will represent South Africa, becoming a linking bridge for South African citizens living and working in Vietnam as well as for Vietnamese businesses in Ho Chi Minh City who want to do business in South Africa.
How do you feel as taking over the position?
I am really happy and proud. I want to share my happiness with all members of the AAA Assurance, where I devote my most love to job and coworkers. Immediately receiving the good news, the AAA Assurance’s staff congratulates me and my happiness seems to double because the AAA Assurance image is always in my mind.
What do you plan for this new work?
The South African Embassy in Vietnam has opened its consulate office in No. 25 Phung Khac Khoan Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. A debuting ceremony will be held on December 10. The office will be a place for South African citizens living and working in Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnamese businessmen who want to seek business, study opportunities and tourism. It will also arrange and manage the signing of economic contracts between the two countries’ enterprises. As an honorary consul, I will try my utmost to introduce and promote Vietnam’s images as well as the Vietnam-South Africa relationship and economic activities by both countries’ enterprises, particularly in 2010 as the final round of World Cup to take place in the African country.
Economic diplomacy is one of the key tasks an honorary consul must take over. What will you do to boost further the two countries’ trade promotion activities?
As undertaking the task, I have been determined to carry out well my role as a linking bridge to narrow cultural, geographical gap between the two nations to facilitate the promotion of trade and investment activities. I will in the coming time meet and work with Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Branch in Ho Chi Minh City, and associations of industries to boost the trade promotion between the two countries. We will also coordinate with the South African Embassy in Vietnam to organize conferences and cultural exchanges.
I will spend more time studying South Africa, which owns various natural sources and potentials of tourism, mining and agriculture. Lots of South Africa’s leading enterprises are operating in the fields of finance, banking, insurance, agricultural processing, bio-technology, handicraft products and fine arts, diamond processing and they are potential partners of Vietnamese businesses. In terms of tourism, with its neglected landscapes, sunny and warm climate and variety of culture, South Africa is fully potential to develop the tourism. Vietnamese businesses can seek investment opportunities in South Africa in many fields such as agricultural processing, auto, chemicals and relevant industries, tourism, garment and textile, leather shoes, mining, metallurgy, aviation, railway, waterway, cinema and machineries.
Being a Vietnamese citizen, I will take advantage of all opportunities to introduce the Vietnamese country and people’s images to South African friends, helping them understand the Vietnamese peoples’ hospitality.
As General Director of AAA Assurance cum South Africa’s honorary consul to Ho Chi Minh City, do you feel any pressure?
Experiences in operating the AAA Assurance have helped me get used to job pressures. In addition, I am interested in discovering new things and facing challenges because if I can overcome them I will temper myself as well as prove myself. However, I know that I will have to arrange the both jobs well. It is not simple, but I believe the love of job and pride will help me balance the both roles: a businesswoman and an honorary consul.
Vietnamese
