A series of activities last for a day including forums, seminars, direct meeting between enterprises, agricultural products promotion in Vietnam, Economic forum "Vietnam-new Asian dragon". These activities appealed involvement of about 150 French and Vietnamese enterprises with representatives from trade promotion agencies of the two sides.
The first economic forum in the French Senate since Vietnam officially became a member of the ASEAN Economic Community; and Vietnam finished the FTA negotiations with the EU. It means that the campaign for the signing and ratification of official documents, as well as long-term preparation to seize the opportunities that the agreement could bring.
Talking to TNVN reporters, Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang highly appreciated the initiative of the French Senate and Business France in coordination with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Embassy of Vietnam in France organized forum-workshop chain - promotion of agricultural products at the headquarters of the French Senate.
Minister Vu Huy Hoang said: "In recent years, economic relations have had a new development, the scope and quality of the increasing cooperation. However, compared with the friendship and bilateral context as strategic partners, the corporation has seemed to be lower than expected and potential ".
Through the introduction of Vietnamese speakers, including representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade with representatives of enterprises, and a wide range of French representatives, two sides agreed to realize the huge potential and this potential will become reality when the FTA is signed and ratified.
The forms of cooperation between the two sides are very copious, and events like this, especially the role of the State bodies, Parliament is very important. "We think the way to do this, with the sponsorship of the State bodies, the trust of the community will be bigger sides, creating more efficient cooperation," Minister Vu Huy Hoang said.
Minister Vu Huy Hoang – Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT)
Forum "Vietnam - new Asian dragon" is an important occasion for presenters who had experienced cooperation with Vietnam. French side presented the thoughts, the secret of success; at the same time open the door to new businesses wishing to seek information and begin setting up cooperation with Vietnam. The majority of the comments from the French businesses are that Vietnam is attractive and has a great potential to work together successfully.
Mr. Mathieu Lefort, Director of Business France in Vietnam, said: “Economic growth and political stability in Vietnam creates confidence for investors when comparing with many other countries. Vietnam agriculture has developed dramatically, especially in coffee, pepper and raw rice. Labor force in Vietnam is plentiful and powerfully competitive. Of course, there are many challenges and difficulties, however, the authorities themselves had concerned the situation and have had specific actions to improve as well as reform the office structure, simplify administrative procedures, etc.”
The Embassy of Vietnam in France, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Son highly appreciated the opinions of Vietnamese and French speakers at the Economic forum: “This could be mentioned at the very first helpful forum about economy in France after Vietnam signed TPP and complete the negotiation in FTA with EU. Vietnamese speakers and especially French speakers have wide understanding about Vietnam’s economy, priorities in economic development in Vietnam and strengths of French enterprises. The speakers highlighted the real situation of Vietnam’s economy as well as chances which open widely for foreign companies. It becomes even more important when Vietnam has integrated more and more deeply into the international market. Especially, French speakers emphasized strongly that Vietnam will be in the role of the connector between French companies and ASEAN Economy Community”.
Delegates in the discussion
Mr. Le Minh Truong, Vice Director of Vietnam Southern Food Corporation Vinafood 2 expressed his expectation in the promising penetration into French and Europe markets, via activities such as Economic forum which hold at French Senate this time.
“Our goals are approaching market, doing the surveys, directly meeting French companies, especially in field of food industry. Over the past years, exporting raw rice to the Europe market has been lightly concerned. During this trip, we had directly work with French companies, especially distributors, to organize promoting activities to bring Viet brand raw rice to French super markets”, Mr. Le Minh Truong said.
In the framework of the forum, according to the initiatives of the Embassy of Vietnam in France, Vietnamese enterprises have brought some typical agricultural goods such as tea, coffee, raw rice to exhibit and process them into great food and beverage to serve French enterprises as well as officers.
Besides, emphasized the important role of Vietnam, as the connection for French enterprises widening their markets in ASEAN; Mr. Vincent Grosyeux, Futurallia Association highly evaluated the significance of this forum at French Senate. Mr. Vincent Grosyeux strongly asserted: “Vietnam is such an important door for French companies penetrating into and doing business with the whole ASEAN. Once FTA Vietnam-EU Agreement is officially signed and implemented, it will bring lots of benefits for both sides. Furthermore, this seminar had been organized at the right time which made a good foundation and long-term preparation for the near future when the agreement takes effect. Besides, the benefits that Vietnam’s economy has brought were a big motivation for France desiring to have more chances corporate with Vietnam”.
Mr. Vincent Grosyeux emphasized that the attractiveness of Vietnam’s economy is the motivation for the association and French enterprises, other relevant organizations holding the forum France – Vietnam 2016 in the next October, in Ho Chi Minh City.
Signing Ceremony
In the framework of this event, Leader characters of both sides witnessed the Financing Agreement Signing Ceremony between Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency and Business France./ .
Source: Thuy Van/ VOV-Paris (baomoi.com)
