Jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in France and ESSEC Business School, the event drew the participation of nearly 100 delegates from French leading banks and enterprises such as Total, Technip, Societe Generale, Freyssinet, Carrefour and Avera.— VNA/VNS Photo

PARIS (Biz Hub) — A conference themed "Viet Nam – a new strategic partner of France in Asia" was held in Paris on Tuesday to introduce the investment environment in Viet Nam.

Jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in France and ESSEC Business School, the event drew the participation of nearly 100 delegates from French leading banks and enterprises such as Total, Technip, Societe Generale, Freyssinet, Carrefour and Avera.

Addressing the event, Philippe Pasdelou, President of ESSEC Business School, highlighted the strengths of Viet Nam's growing economy as well as its increasing influence and position in Southeast Asia and a stable political environment.

He noted that France is the second largest European provider of development assistance to Viet Nam, which manifested France's policy of expanding its partnership with the Southeast Asian country.

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Duong Chi Dung reviewed the development process of Viet Nam since the beginning of its renewal process in 1986, the comprehensive integration into the international community, as well as the successful implementation of its socio-economic development strategy and policies of attracting foreign investment.

Since 1987, Viet Nam has drawn nearly 11,000 projects with total investment of US$211 billion, earning it the reputation as the third most attractive investment destinations in Asia after China and India, he noted.

Regarding the Viet Nam-France economic, trade and investment co-operation, the diplomat said total two-way trade last year reached $3.2 billion while the figure for the first six months of this year was $1.6 billion.

France was among leading trade partners of Viet Nam in Europe and had become one of the country's most important export markets, he said, adding that French companies had invested a total of $3.1 billion in 375 projects in Viet Nam.

The Ambassador stressed that big opportunities are opening up in economic and trade co-operation between the two countries, after they upgraded their relations to a strategic partnership during Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung's visit to France in September this year.

On the occasion, Vietnamese representatives introduced the country's major export products including rice, coffee, rubber, cashew, pepper, garment and textile, footwear and aquatic products as well as the country's importing demands.

They also answered questions on Viet Nam's policies to encourage investment and incentives for investors. — VNS