French Week in Vietnam: Momentum for a New Investment Wave

 

First of all, all activities of the French week focus on Vietnam, therefore, we expect strong support from Vietnamese people for this event.

 

Previously, French enterprises were not very successful in investing in Vietnam although they made investments in the country quite early. The Vietnamese economy has really developed since 2000. Before then, the Vietnamese market was still weak and not ready to receive our long-term projects. Meanwhile, French investors found China stronger with much more potential. However, after 2000, we have had a different look, but many French enterprises are still eying India for its potential. Therefore, we want to hold an event to encourage them to pay more attention to Vietnam. In this week, we will organise a series of sports and cultural activities, besides economic events, to attract public attention. We also hope that the week will help French enterprises understand more about Vietnam’s potential, which is expected to create a stronger inflow of French investment into the country. We will select outstanding French companies to boost the two-country investment cooperation. Around 100-150 French will participate in an exhibition in Vietnam.

 

The French week will be opened with a marathon race and many other contests for people. The marathon race will see the participation of many famous people such as the closest adviser of the French President and representatives from French communication agencies. In the afternoon, a photo exhibition will be launched by the French Consulate General’s Culture Department.

 

On April 7, there will be a dance performance entitled “My story”. On April 8, we will inaugurate Tre Eco-museumin Phu An Village, southern Binh Duong Province. This is a project within the framework of a cooperation programme between France’s Rhone-Alpes region, Binh Duong Province, Pilat Natural Garden and Ho Chi Minh City Natural Sciences University, to preserve biological diversification of bamboos in Vietnam. On April 8, there will be a friendly football match between footballers and ex-footballers from Vietnam and France. From Wednesday to Friday, there will be an exhibition of French enterprises in Viet Nam. An important event of the week is a multi-sector exhibition in northern Phu Tho from January 9 to display French companies’ products, divided into different categories namely France and its regions, services, industry and consumer products. The exhibition is a good opportunity for French companies to further study the Vietnamese market and to make investment decisions in the country. Among French companies at the exhibition, many have set up headquarters in Vietnam. During the exhibition, seminars on matters of concern like human resource training, farm products and foodstuff and energy will be held.

 

This is a multi-sector exhibition, so it is very open to all companies. We will invite the most famous experts in each area to join the exhibition, talk about French products and introduce several enterprises coming from French-speaking countries such as Africa. We know that Vietnam and Mali have set up close ties in rice export; therefore, we want to take this an outstanding example of cooperation with Africa. We really want to use France as a bridge to link Vietnam and Africa, helping the country further enter this continent. Therefore, there will be 10 – 20 African enterprises to join the exhibition. On the evening of April 9, we will hold a Gala Dinner at White Palace Convention Centre, which will include fashion and jewellery collection displays. On Friday evening, Monmartre nightwill take place at the French Consulate General’s garden.

 

Medical products account for up to 20 per cent of Vietnam’s imported products from France. The education sector is considered a matter of concern by the two countries. Therefore, we prioritise these two areas for the seminars, which are expected to be a good occasion for us to share experiences with Vietnamese partners to understand market demand and work out our development plan. We will directly invite enterprises that we care about, and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry can introduce local businesses who want to talk with us.

 

This is the purpose for the French week. However, the success of the event depends on the efforts of enterprises of both sides. If they really pay attention to the two sides, there will certainly be a new investment wave.  

 

I used to think that Vietnam-France cooperation ties were not very successful. Many big French companies have not yet entered Vietnam. Therefore, I expect this week is a good opportunity to introduce Vietnam with its great potential and its enterprise development process. I hope that French companies will change their perspective about the Southeast Asian market.

I myself have lived in Vietnam for 14 years, however, I never decided to invest in the country. Now it is different, we will help our businesses to expand their investments in the country.

 

We have poured vast investment for a year into holding this event. The week is organised every two years. We will try to gather experiences to make the upcoming French week more successful.

 

We expect cooperation with VCCI. We have also received strong support from Vietnamese agencies and organisations such as the Vietnam Football Federation and sports departments. We hope for more cooperation from other agencies.  

Thanks for your cooperation.