PM visits Vietnamese-owned Sapa Trading Centre in Prague
VOV.VN - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on January 19 afternoon called at the Sapa Trading Center in Prague to inquire about Vietnamese expatriates’ working conditions, as part of his ongoing visit to the Czech Republic.
Known as a “miniature Vietnam” in Europe, the Sapa Trading Center is not only a bustling commercial hub but also a vital cultural connection that preserves traditions and the language of Vietnam. It houses a variety of businesses, including retail stores, insurance services, immigration consultancy offices, and traditional Vietnamese eateries. Currently, the center has more than 1,000 stalls that cater to the business needs of around 10,000 Vietnamese.
The center hosts traditional events such as Lunar New Year celebrations, fairs, and Vietnamese language classes for younger generations of Vietnamese in the Czech Republic.
The PM visited the Prague Vietnamese Language Center that has voluntarily taught Vietnamese to thousands of children born and raised in the Czech Republic over the past 22 years.
Speaking at the center, the Prime Minister recalled a visit in 2009 by the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (then Chairman of the National Assembly), underscoring the Party and State’s deep concern for preserving and promoting Vietnamese culture, traditions, and language for overseas Vietnamese.
He emphasized that the Vietnamese language acts as a bridge between generations that helps to foster cultural understanding, national pride, and love for the homeland among young overseas Vietnamese.
The PM urged the center to diversify teaching methods and activities to inspire students. He tasked the Ministry of Education and Training with enhancing Vietnamese language education abroad, including exploring online teaching options and accommodating global time zones.
Shortly afterwards, the PM toured various Vietnamese businesses at the Sapa Trading Centre, including Tamda Corporation, which collaborates with nearly 800 partners and brands in the Czech Republic and internationally. Tamda offers over 50,000 quality-controlled products from Europe, Asia, and Vietnam.
In 2023, Tamda was honoured as one of the 20 enterprises achieving the ‘Vietnam Business Culture Standard.’
Chinh expressed his delight at the growth of Vietnamese enterprises and the thriving Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic. He praised the diverse product offerings, competitive pricing, and professional business practices.
He commended Tamda Corporation’s structured business operations and encouraged further diversification of markets, products, and supply chains. He also suggested expanding operations to other countries, boosting air freight logistics, and building Vietnamese brands, especially in seafood, which is in high demand.
The PM also acknowledged Tamda Corporation’s establishment of a media channel serving the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic and Europe. The channel provides news updates and produces programmes celebrating Vietnamese integration and outstanding contributions to the host society and homeland.
He instructed the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the Vietnamese Embassy in the Czech Republic, and other relevant agencies to support this media initiative.
He expressed hope that the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic would continue to uphold solidarity, build a thriving Vietnamese business community, comply with local laws, and maintain ties with the homeland.
