This is the first official visit to an ISSA member nation during the term of Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano, which is important to affirm the role of ISSA in the international social security community and facilitate Vietnam Social Insurance in international cooperation.

The ISSA, founded in 1927 and based in Switzerland, is the world's largest multilateral forum on social security, including 338 member organizations in 157 countries. It aims to promote the development of the global social security system through connecting and supporting member organizations to innovate, create and develop sustainable social security.

In 2015, Vietnam Social Insurance joined ISSA and it is currently the only official member of Vietnam at this important multilateral forum. Vietnam Social Insurance was honored to receive the ISSA Global Award for the application of information technology to the Health Insurance Expenses Assessment System. It is also a member of the ISSA Technical Committee on pension fund management. At the same time, It sent many officials to participate in international training courses and workshops organized by ISSA inside and outside the region.

Recently, Vietnam Social Insurance has actively participated in ISSA activities as well as acted as a bridge to connect ISSA with the ASEAN Social Security Association, during the term of ASSA 2018 - 2019. In July  2019, Vietnam Social Insurance co-chaired with ISSA to successfully organize an international seminar on the topic "Good governance to provide better social security services" in Vietnam.

Dr. Caetano has a much experience in retirement, demographics, social security, inequality and poverty. He has published many publications and articles in prestigious magazines in Brazil, the United States, Switzerland, Portugal, Chile and Mexico. He is a senior member of the London School of Economics and an international editorial advisor for the Journal of Social Policy, published by Cambridge University Press./.

 Thuc Quyen