On December 4, 2023, Paris became the meeting point for businesses and politicians at the France-Vietnam Cooperation Forum. The event, hosted by Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, marked a significant step in connecting ASEAN and the EU to collectively address global challenges. The forum, held under the patronage of the President of the French Senate, Mr. Gérard Larcher, is considered one of the practical activities jointly organized by Vietnam and France to commemorate 50 years of diplomatic relations and 10 years of the Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
Minister Nguyen Hong Dien presided over the roundtable discussion on Vietnam, organized by Business France and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Mrs. Lai Nguyễn, CEO of Vinatoken Company, actively participated in networking sessions, sharing experiences with representatives from businesses in both France and Vietnam. This interaction not only created a learning environment but also promoted collaboration and mutual development.
At the discussion session on France-Vietnam cooperation with the theme “Sustainable Supply Chains,” Mr. Vu Ba Phu, Director General of the Trade Promotion Agency, emphasized the indispensable role of global supply chains in the world economy. Vietnam, with its favorable investment conditions and stable socio-political situation, especially possessing numerous international seaports, is a promising partner in the current global supply chain. Minister Nguyen Hong Dien affirmed that the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries are being strengthened and developed, especially the good political relations that have directed and created momentum for development in the areas of economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two countries. According to the Minister of Industry and Trade, the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the EU (EVFTA), effective since 2020, has played a role in promoting import-export activities between Vietnam and France in recent times. Currently, only two ASEAN countries have signed a free trade agreement with the EU. Therefore, the French business community can consider “Vietnam as the gateway to ASEAN” for goods and investments from France. Vietnamese enterprises can also leverage France as a distribution hub for goods throughout the EU.
According to the World Bank, Vietnam’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI) has significantly improved, ranking 43 out of 139 economies. This is a noteworthy progress compared to the position of 53 in 2010, placing Vietnam in the top 5 in the ASEAN region. In the ranking of emerging world markets, Vietnam is in the top 10 out of 50, ranked 4th in international logistics opportunities.
In addition to the panel discussions, the Forum provided opportunities for trade between Vietnamese businesses and French and ASEAN partners. These business exchanges have opened up many opportunities for investment cooperation in areas such as organic agriculture, cosmetics, and textiles. Vietnamese enterprises have stepped into opportunities to work with foreign partners such as JW Corp, In Spirit Design, Lyseo, creating important connections for their sustainable development.