Vietnamese, foreign contributors to community in UK honoured

Inpiduals are honoured at the ceremony. (Photo:VNA)

London – The Ladies of All Nations International UK-Vietnam (LOANI VNUK) on May 7 (local time) held a ceremony to honour Vietnamese inpiduals and organisations for their contributions to the community.

Speaking at the event, LOANI VNUK President Hoang Hai Ha said it organised the award ceremony on the occasion of the coronation of King Charles III and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the UK, with the hope to tighten the relationship and create prosperity and sustainable development to both countries.

She said organisations and inpiduals nominated for the award are inspirational figures, entrepreneurs, young leaders, and young talents operating in the fields from education, health, culture, and art to volunteering, humanitarian activities, and community connectivity.

The Inspiring Global Leader of the Year award was given to Katrin Kandel, CEO of Facing the World - a British charity that supports surgeries for Vietnamese children with congenital maxillofacial malformations, provides professional training for Vietnamese surgeons and sponsors medical equipment and technology for remote medical examination and treatment for Vietnamese hospitals.

The Prestigious Organisation of the Year Award was given to the Vietnamese Intellectuals Association in the UK and Northern Ireland - an organisation gathering more than 100 professors, associate professors, and senior lecturers at more than 60 universities in the UK and Ireland.

Nguyen Thi Minh Thu, CEO of An Phu Pearl and Jewelry Company, received the Entrepreneur of the Year award as her company has supported to build bridges and houses, and giving gifts to people in disadvantaged areas in Vietnam. The company also participates in the project to build 200 libraries for schools across Vietnam.

The School of the Year Award was presented to Ark Oval Primary Academy (London) for its contributions to promoting the culture of minority communities, including organising a Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebration.

The Star of the Year Award went to William Nguyen, a 13-year-old boy known as a musical prodigy with many achievements in music and mathematics.

Many other awards were also given to others that have had community support activities such as disaster relief, free medical examination and treatment for the poor, and support for Vietnamese during the pandemic.

LOANI VNUK is a member of London-based global LOANI founded by British African-American Professor Caroline Makaka in 2017. It focuses on activities to raise awareness about equal rights of women and children, mental health, training young leaders, preserving Vietnamese culture, helping children and people elderly in Vietnam, the UK, and Africa.

Potential through the roof for bilateral advancement in UK-Vietnam linkages The United Kingdom and Vietnam’s relations are at an all-time high, and in that context, we are delighted to be celebrating five decades of diplomatic relations this year. The UK-Vietnam Strategic Partnership, refreshed in 2020 shortly after I arrived in the post, set the tone for an ever-closer political and economic relationship.

Vietnam-UK trade bond underway After nearly two years of entry into force, the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, in addition to Vietnam’s improved investment and business climate, have facilitated both nations to increase trade and investment.