France wants Vietnam to become a gateway to a larger Asian market, and vice versa France will help Vietnam penetrate the lucrative European market, Mr Fillon told Le Thanh Hai, Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee.

He said French businesses are keen to invest in HCM City’s urban infrastructure construction, transport development, water management, energy and financial services.

He spoke highly of the results of the current decentralisation cooperation model between the two countries, saying it has largely contributed to promoting effective France-Vietnam cooperation.

Secretary Hai briefed his guest on the city’s socio-economic development potential and the results of cooperation programmes between the city and France’s Lyon city and Rhone Alpes region.

He thanked the French government for providing EUR30 million to the Municipal Development Fund and affirmed that the aid has been used effectively to increase the quality of lives of local people, especially the poor.

He welcomed French businesses’ plans to invest in the city’s infrastructure and public transport projects and said the city will support the building of Colette school in District 3 for the French community there. He also proposed that the French government support cooperation between HCM City and other French localities.

Radio Voice Of Vietnam - November 14, 2009

Vietnamese, French firms sign contracts worth $9.5b

HA NOI – French Prime Minister Francois Fillon yesterday called on French businesses to continue making the most of Vietnamese markets as a way to enhance their presence.

While highly applauding Viet Nam’s economic achievements, he said France was willing to help Viet Nam perfect its legal framework to better facilitate businesses.

In his speech at the French-Vietnamese business forum, Fillon outlined new energy, environment protection, transport and infrastructure as promising sectors for bilateral co-operation.

Economic co-operation between the two nations had witnessed significant growth in past years, said Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung.

Currently, France is Europe’s leading foreign investor in Viet Nam and also Viet Nam’s third largest European trading partner.

Hung described the forum yesterday as a good chance for enterprises from the two nations to promote understanding and draw up methods to foster co-operation.

He said he hoped that via the trip, French firms would find out business opportunities in Viet Nam and help the country develop as part of their global business strategies.

"The Vietnamese Government is committed to creating favourable conditions for enterprises to invest in and run businesses here," Hung said.

Vietnamese and French businesses had huge potential to promote co-operation, said the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Vu Tien Loc.

Signed

Viet Nam would be an effective gateway for French enterprises to penetrate Southeast Asian and in return, France would connect Viet Nam to potential European markets, Loc said.

Yesterday also saw 18 contracts signed between Vietnamese and French businesses with a total capital of US$9.5 billion.

Under the contracts, the enterprises will co-operate in areas such as thermo-electricity generation, finance, telecommunications, banking, construction and urban planning and development.

On the same day, Fillon said at a reception by HCM City Party Committee Secretary Le Thanh Hai that he hoped to build on the traditional co-operation between the two countries.

Fillon highlighted their advantages and common viewpoints on sustainable development.

"French firms are interested in Viet Nam as an appropriate place to invest in projects on production development but with respect to environmental protection," he said.

French businesses had skills to support HCM City in the fields of urban infrastructure, transportation, water and energy management and financial services, he said.

He confirmed the French government would continue to promote and encourage its businesses to invest in and co-operate with Viet Nam.

Fillon also stressed the importance of non-governmental co-operation, particularly in the field of education and language studies.

Hai emphasised the significance of co-operative projects and programmes between HCM City and France’s Lyon City and Rhone Alpes region.

He thanked the French Government for the aid of $44.6 million to the municipal development fund and confirmed the support was being used to improve people’s lives, especially the poor.

Hai applauded French investors who participated in development projects of infrastructure and public transport in HCM City.

He suggested the French government facilitate and support co-operation between HCM City and localities in France and confirmed that the city would give priority to the construction of Colette School in District 3 for the local French community’s children.

Viet Nam remained a lucrative investment market to France’s leading companies despite the global economic crisis, said Frederic Sanchez, President of the Vietnamese sub-committee of the French Business Confederation (MEDEF) on Thursday.

During a meeting with Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Huu Hao, Sanchez said Viet Nam had advantages in attracting French investment especially in heavy industries due to its skilled labour and the large number of overseas Vietnamese specialists working in France.

Vietnam News Agency - November 14, 2009

France expects more trade cooperation with Vietnam: French PM

HANOI - French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said here on Friday that France expects more cooperation with Vietnam in various fields, especially in environmental protection and space aviation.

The French Prime Minister Francois Fillon made the statement when attending the Vietnam-France business forum on his occasion of visiting Vietnam from Nov. 12 to 14. The visit aims to discuss measures to give new momentum to the comprehensive relations between Vietnam and France.

The forum was held here by Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and French Embassy in Vietnam. The forum drew participation of hundreds of Vietnamese and French business companies and agencies.

Francois Fillon expressed his pleasure at the fine development in bilateral cooperation of all areas between Vietnam and France in the past years. However, the bilateral cooperation has not matched the two sides' potential.

Regarding space aviation cooperation, France has helped Vietnam in the past years in training pilots and developing aviation technology and mini-satellite. France expects more fruitful outcome of aviation cooperation with Vietnam in the coming time, said Francois Fillon.

The French Prime Minister also expressed his country's willingness to help Vietnam cope with climate change, waste water treatment, waste treatment and other environmental issues.

Attending the business forum, Vietnamese Standing Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung said that the forum will create a momentum to foster the traditional friendship comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

The two countries will work on proposals to deepen the bilateral relations and bring it to a new height, said Nguyen SinhHung.

The closure of the Vietnam-France business forum witness the signing ceremony of 18 economic contracts valued at 9.5 billion U.S. dollars. These contracts are of satellite development, post and communications, electricity, banking, oil and gas, urban planning, environmental protection, coal and minerals.

The two-way trade between Vietnam and France in 2008 was 1.8 billion U.S. dollars, down ten percent year-on-year, according to statistics at the forum.

Xinhua - November 13, 2009