New Cooperation Opportunities for Vietnamese, French Businesses

The “French Week in Vietnam,” was regarded as a great opportunity for France to promote investment cooperation in Vietnam. To learn more about this issue, the Vietnam Business Forum reporter Do Son had an exclusive interview with Mr Loic Muller, representative of Hanoi Office of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam (CCIFV).

First of all, I would like to introduce the first function of CCIFV in Vietnam – helping French companies to do business in Vietnam. We provide a variety of services to help French companies in Vietnam. Our frequent activities include roundtables, forums and other thematic activities.

The second task is to help French companies enter the Vietnamese market with our services. For example, we arrange business matching for Vietnamese and French enterprises. Each year, about 80 French companies are arranged to meet directly with Vietnamese partners. Most of these companies do not yet have a presence in Vietnam. CCIFV is the first agency they contact to make inroads into the Vietnamese market.

The third function is to promote the Vietnamese market in France. Indeed, very few companies have an accurate and full view of Vietnam and the potential of its economy. Each year, we spend two months organising conferences in France to build up a good image of Vietnam in the eyes of French companies. In those two months, CCIFV cooperates with regional French chambers of commerce to host seminars on Vietnam.

The fourth function is to help Vietnamese companies enter the French market. We support Vietnamese companies which are attending major international trade fairs and exhibitions in foreign countries, particularly in France. With this function, CCIFV serves as a bridge for Vietnamese associations like the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and Vietnamese business associations to contact regional French business associations.

Currently, CCIFV has about 240 French member companies in Vietnam.

First, I would like to say that France was a pioneering investor in Vietnam when the country initiated the Doi Moi (renovation) era. But currently, companies from Asia like Japan and South Korea are dominant investors in Vietnam. Therefore, one important task of CCIFV is to help French companies to participate more and continue to find success in Vietnam. I see tremendous prospects for cooperation between the two countries, especially in the field of infrastructure development, health, education and industries in Vietnam. The evidence is seen in the many large corporations now operating effectively in Vietnam, including Total, Vinci, Veolia, Big C, Sanofi Aventis, Arep and France Telecom.

In my opinion, French companies visiting Vietnam this time are strong at infrastructure development. The first reason is many of these companies have been present and operating effectively for a long time in Vietnam. So, they have solid reputations. French architects join many large projects in Vietnam. France not only has top-notch architectural design companies, but also richly experienced construction companies like Vinci. This proves that French companies are strong at all stages in a project, from A to Z, from surveying and designing to construction. Another strength of French companies is their long term cooperation; thus, their joint projects go very smoothly and effectively.

Vietnam is starting also to promote another investment form called public private partnership (PPP), and, France is considered a top expert in PPP.

Vietnam is giving more positive signals in this area. For example, Vietnam made changes to its investment laws to open more sectors to investors. And, French companies always want Vietnam to maintain and develop sustainably on this path to feel assured in doing business in Vietnam.

CCIFV and VCCI have a long-standing relationship. And this relationship is constantly promoted by both parties. As regards the French Week in Vietnam, VCCI enthusiastically helped us with specific activities like working with the media and seeking Vietnamese partners for the French Week in Vietnam. This is important and valuable assistance. I would like to express my gratitude to VCCI and the success of the French Week in Vietnam can be largely credited to VCCI’s contributions.

In the future, I hope both sides will continue to strengthen cooperation and act as increasingly important bridges for investment cooperation activities of the two countries’ enterprises.

Thank you very much!