​On the morning of May 27th, 2016, 1st Congress of Dong Nai Province Viet Nam - Korea Friendship Association (2016-2021) was held at Golden Lotus Convention Center with the presence of Mr. Park Noh Wan - Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Mai Thanh Hai - Vice Chairman of the Central Vietnam-Korea Friendship Association, Mr. Tran Van Vinh - Vice Chairman of Dong Nai Province People’s Committee and about 200 delegates who are leaders in central agencies, in Dong Nai Province and other provinces; leaders of Korean companies in Dong Nai and members of the Association.

Delegates had photo taken with the Executive Board

At the Congress, Regulations and plan from 2016 to 2021 of the Association were approved; executive board of the Association was elected, in which there are 15 members and the Chairman is Mr. Pham Minh Dao – Director of Dong Nai Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Speaking at the Congress, Mr. Tran Van Vinh emphasized the role of Friendship Associations in maintaining and developing the bilateral friendship between Dong Nai and other countries. As for Korea, for over 20 years, Dong Nai and Korea have developed their relationship in various fields such as economic, human resource training and cultural exchange, sports and youth. Currently, Korea has become the second largest investor in Dong Nai with 264 projects worth over 5 billion US dollars. Korean companies in Dong Nai have given jobs for about 150 thousand workers. Especially, on this occasion, Dong Nai Province and Gyeongnam (Korea) are also co-organizing several activities to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of their friendship and cooperative relationship.

Speaking at the Congress, Mr. Park Noh Wan – Consul General of the Republic of Korea in HCMC expressed his pleasure to see the good results in the relationship between Korea and Dong Nai, he has also expectations of the role of Dong Nai Vietnam-Korea Friendship Association. Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in HCMC also undertook to make every effort to promote the friendship and cooperative relationship between Korea and Dong Nai Province through close relationship between the Consulate General and Dong Nai Province Vietnam-Korea Friendship Association.

Besides the main contents of the Congress, there were also many activities such as: Korean - Vietnamese cultural exchange show; Gyeongnam Province’s Representative Office in HCMC donated 100 thousand US dollars for building rooms in Hoa Mai kindergarten (Dinh Quan District); Taewang Vina Company and Hwaseung Vina Company donated 100 scholarships worth 100 million VND.

​Le Huong