Published 31 July 2014

Hanoi, Viet Nam - Today, Florian Forster, outgoing Chief of Mission of IOM in Viet Nam, was awarded the “Medal of Contribution to the Cause of Labour – Invalids and Socials Affairs”,  the highest merit medal of the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) in recognition of his achievements in Viet Nam over the last years. Forster leaves Hanoi after five years of service to take up a new position at IOM Headquarters in Geneva.  

In his remarks Vice-Minister Nguyen Thanh Hoa of MoLISA commended and thanked Forster for IOM’s great contributions to labour migration, counter trafficking, migration and gender, and migration management  in Viet Nam. He invited the incoming Chief of Mission, David Knight, to continue and further expand IOM’s strong partnership with Viet Nam.

“Viet Nam and the Vietnamese people will always keep a very special place in my heart and thoughts,” Forster stated in his remarks. “One of my fondest memories in Viet Nam dates back to 2011, when IOM worked closely with MoLISA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the safe evacuation and return of more than 10,500 Vietnamese migrant workers from Libya.”

IOM has developed over the past 27 years a strong and trusted relationship with the Government and the people of Viet Nam. Viet Nam is today one of IOM’s big member states and an increasingly influential actor in the international migration scene and debate.

See also a feature report on the MoLISA official website:
http://www.molisa.gov.vn/vi/Pages/chitiettin.aspx?IDNews=21505