Football lovers all over the world are excited to wait for the opening day of the FIFA World Cup 2010, the world’s largest sports event to take place in the beautiful African country of South Africa. In the past days, Vietnamese football fans had a chance to view the World Cup during its trip to Ho Chi Minh City. This was the first time the famous golden cup came to Vietnam and stayed in the country for three days. The Thao Hang Ngay (Sport Daily) newspaper talks with Madam Do Thi Kim Lien, South African Honorary Consul in HCMC, who had great contribution in efforts to bring the cup to Vietnamese fans.

It is not long from now to the opening of the World Cup. As Honorary Consul of South Africa in HCMC, what do you do to help Vietnamese fans have an opportunity to watch football matches directly in South Africa?
Madam Lien: The FIFA World Cup is organized every four years and attracts the attention of the whole world. So, I will take advantage of this special event to promote the images of Vietnam and South Africa to international friends. I have official information to provide for Vietnamese people to approach the host country of the Football World Cup. From January 18 to 20, 2010 the unique golden cup in the world that does not have a second version appeared in HCMC. The South African Ambassador to Vietnam, his wife and I went to the airport to receive the cup. During these days, Coca-Cola and FIFA World Cup organized many activities related to the cup, especially the South African Honorary Consul Office opened a stall at the Military Zone 7 Stadium where the cup was displayed to introduce information about South Africa and World Cup-related programs. After this event, we will organize seminars for football fans who want to travel to South Africa to directly watch football matches there and businesspeople wanting to do business with South Africa. There will be special visa types to serve this special event. With the role of South African Honorary Consul in HCMC, I will create favorable conditions for football fans and anyone interested in South Africa.

Besides the role of South African Honorary Consul in HCMC, you are general director of AAA Assurance Corporation. The company has many insurance products, including Global Travel Insurance. Is it better for people going to South Africa if they buy this product?
- With the Global Travel Insurance product, you can go on business or travel with peace of mind and enjoy the whole trip not only in South Africa but also all over the world. Together with our partner - Assist Card International, AAA Assurance commits to provide customers with 24/24 Emergency Assistance Service through the network of 49 multi-language Global Emergency Assistance Centers. AAA Assurance is willing to assist you every time and every where by using the Direct Payment Method. With Global Travel Insurance, you can feel secure and enjoy the whole trip. In the past years, AAA Assurance has cooperated with many foreign companies to launch practical insurance products for customers and improve the company’s quality of services. In 2010, we will continue cooperation with foreign partners so that customers will have better insurance products and services. We are conducting a survey on classifying the types of customers in order to design and launch insurance products meeting the requirements of all customers such as medical insurance for poor people and low- and medium-income earners, family electronics insurance, and sports insurance.

An issue Vietnamese businesses are concerned is exchange opportunities between Vietnam and South Africa. With the role of South African Honorary Consul in HCMC, what can you do to help them?
- I will act as bridge to narrow geographical and cultural gaps and promote investment and cooperation opportunities between the two countries. Vietnamese and South African businesses have lots of investment and cooperation opportunities in many areas such as banking, finance, insurance, real estate, farm produce processing, automobiles, chemical and related industries, tourism, textile and garment, footwear, minerals and metallurgy, aviation, etc.
By Hai Dang
Sport Daily Newspaper