Hanoi: Following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State Visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD), led by Minister Stella Ndabeni, embarked on a practical learning and trade mission that brought South African entrepreneurs face to face with some of Vietnam’s most successful small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
According to South African Government News Agency, the Minister was joined by a delegation of 11 entrepreneurs representing a wide range of sectors-from beauty, agro-processing, medicinal herbs, fashion, fintech to agriculture and manufacturing-as part of South Africa’s broader effort to deepen economic collaboration between the two countries and empower its own small business community. The entrepreneurs included a representative from MAXHOSA AFRICA, a South African cultural luxury brand, founded in 2010 through the referencing and evolution of traditional Xhosa beadwork aesthetics.
Speaking to SAnews on the ground in Hanoi, Minister Ndabeni said the visit sought to expose local entrepreneurs to Vietnam’s SME-driven economic model and open avenues for partnerships, trade, and knowledge exchange. “We are here in Hanoi, Vietnam, because this is one of the countries where small and medium enterprises are the ones that drive the economy. The President could not have left us behind. But most importantly, it was not just about us. It’s about the work that is being done by the entrepreneurs. Our entrepreneurs came here to engage with their counterparts and to look for opportunities. We are here to learn how the Vietnamese government supports SMEs, how they drive procurement, and most importantly, what we can take home to strengthen our own small business ecosystem,” the Minister said.
The delegation’s first stop was the Anbi Hair Workshop in Bac Ninh Province, one of Vietnam’s leading hair manufacturing facilities. Here, entrepreneurs witnessed the entire production chain-from raw, freshly cut hair to finished wigs and weaves ready for export. For Karabo Moremedi, founder of Brows by Kari, a South African beauty hub focused on hair restoration, permanent makeup, and medical aesthetics, the visit was a revelation. “Seeing how they process and manufacture hair products from start to finish has been an eye-opener. It made me realise the gaps that exist in South Africa’s beauty industry, especially in manufacturing. I’m inspired to bring these lessons home to empower and upskill young women, and to ensure we take part in the full value chain,” she told SAnews.
Ndabeni echoed this sentiment, noting that while the beauty industry in South Africa is vibrant, it remains largely dominated by foreign nationals and imported products. “One of the things we are big on at home is the beauty industry, but it is not dominated by South Africans. We want to change that. We brought entrepreneurs here to see how they can manufacture their own wigs, weaves, and related products locally,” she said.
The visit also included engagements with the management of Dong Xuan Market, one of Hanoi’s busiest trading hubs, where small businesses play a vital role in sustaining the local economy. The Minister said the visit provided valuable insights into how Vietnam’s small traders thrive through collaboration and government support. “These markets are driven by small businesses across different sectors. We came here to see how they sustain their trade, how they pay rent, attract customers, and keep the ecosystem vibrant,” she said.
The day concluded with a Round Table Meeting with Vietnamese Enterprises at the Melia Hotel, where the South African delegation explored potential collaborations in manufacturing, agriculture, and trade distribution.
For Tebogo Tlhopane, founder of BioMuti, the visit offered a platform to explore export opportunities for his herbal and indigenous-knowledge-based health supplements. “Vietnam has a growing supplements market worth about a billion dollars a year, with 70% being herbal products. This aligns perfectly with BioMuti, as our products are based on indigenous knowledge systems. We’re here to look for partners and explore how we can distribute our products across Southeast Asia,” he told SAnews. Tlhopane said the exposure reaffirmed the importance of integrating science with traditional African knowledge to create globally competitive wellness products.
Agriculture entrepreneur Benedict Mhlongo, founder of Benica Farm in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, said the visit was equally valuable for agro-processing development. His cooperative, which employs 20 people, produces organic products including chili sauce, honey, jam, and mango achar. “Vietnamese people consume a lot of condiments and spicy foods, so I believe there’s a strong market for our chili-based products. We also saw packaging innovations here that we can adapt back home. If supported by government, this could help us expand production and export,” Mhlongo said. Mhlongo added that through platforms like this, young farmers could gain practical insights into trade, packaging, and distribution-crucial steps toward building sustainable agribusinesses in rural areas.
Minister Ndabeni told SAnews that the engagements in Hanoi built on the outcomes of the South Africa-Vietnam Business Forum, co-led by President Ramaphosa and Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau. The forum outlined potential trade and investment areas, with both countries committing to strengthen cooperation in small business development and innovation. “By the time the Vietnamese Prime Minister visits South Africa, we expect to have signed Memoranda of Understanding that will guide collaboration and promote entrepreneurship in both countries,” Ndabeni said.
The visit underscored the Department’s commitment to creating global exposure opportunities for South African entrepreneurs and ensuring that small businesses are not left behind in the country’s international trade agenda. “Our entrepreneurs have seen first-hand how SMEs drive Vietnam’s economy. Now the task is to take these lessons home, localise production, and make sure South Africa’s small business sector becomes a key engine of growth, innovation, and job creation,” the Minister said.