A specialized state-run firm for diplomatic services held a reception on Friday evening for international diplomats, businesses people, and Vietnamese officials in Ho Chi Minh City and other localities in the southern region.

The reception, held by Ho Chi Minh City-based Service Company to Foreign Missions (FOSCO) at Rex Hotel, was joined by over 300 guests who are working for international diplomatic and business corps as well as Vietnamese state bodies in the southern economic hub and other southern cities and provinces.

Douglas Anthony Barnes, UK Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City and Dean of Consular Corps of Ho Chi Minh City, gives a speech at the reception held by Ho Chi Minh City-based Service Company to Foreign Missions (FOSCO) at Rex Hotel on January 15, 2015. Photo: Thoai Tran/ Tuoi Tre News.

The event is a chance to share the important plans the firms is pursuing for 2016 and review the achievements of the state-run company, managed by the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, during the 37-year course, said Ngo Anh Tuan, chairman of FOSCO’s board of directors.

“It is also an opportunity for us to express gratefulness to international partners and customers for your cooperation and supports for FOSCO in the past years,” Tuan said.  

FOSCO is tasked to ensure security and safety in providing and managing employees and other services like office, housing, education, sports and entertainment to consular corps, foreign representative offices, NGO offices and other foreign individuals since its establishment in July 1979 following a decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The state-run firm is also responsible for recruiting, training and managing the workforce for foreign organizations and individuals in 20 southern provinces and cities, from Binh Thuan to the southernmost province of Ca Mau.

It is now operating a team of 10,000 Vietnamese employees working for over 1,200 foreign offices including consular agencies, NGOs, business representative offices in Ho Chi Minh City and other southern localities.

Meanwhile, its education arm, FOSCO International School, is serving for 142 officials from diplomatic corps and NGOs in Ho Chi Minh City.

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