French enterprises and the wider Francophone business community are poised to seize emerging investment and business opportunities in Vietnam, particularly in sectors where France holds advantages such as energy, sustainable development, infrastructure, semiconductors, as well as agriculture, transport, health care, and pharmaceuticals.

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang made the remark during a roundtable discussion held on May 14 with Francophone businesses interested in investing and doing business in Vietnam. The event gathered senior leaders from major French and international companies across diverse sectors to explore avenues for future cooperation with Vietnam.
At the roundtable, French business leaders engaged in open dialogue, introducing their enterprises and sharing insights and experiences gained from operating in Vietnam. They also expressed interest in upcoming opportunities and outlined their expectations for deeper cooperation and future investment in the country.

Participants widely acknowledged Vietnam’s remarkable development achievements and its current growth potential. Many saw these as a source of fresh momentum that could drive new partnerships in key sectors between Vietnamese and international companies.

Ambassador Thang expressed hope that the roundtable and future engagements will further strengthen economic relations between France and Vietnam, one of the critical pillars of the Vietnam – France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Steve Gentili, President of the Francophone Business Forum (FFA), noted that many Francophone companies are already active in Vietnam. Since the Francophonie Summit held in Hanoi, economic collaboration has expanded across all 87 member states of the community.

He highlighted Vietnam’s special voice within the Francophonie community and applauded the country’s initiative to promote economic cooperation among member states.

At the event, business representatives agreed that Vietnam’s emergence as a rising force in the regional economy presents a compelling opportunity for French and European companies. They saw Vietnam as a strategic entry point for expanding operations and partnerships in the broader Asia–Pacific region.

In today’s volatile global investment and trade environment, French and European businesses aim to maintain a diverse economic portfolio by partnering with dynamic and promising markets like Vietnam. For its part, Vietnam stands to climb higher in the global and regional economic rankings if it can capitalise on new areas of cooperation, particularly in energy, transport, infrastructure, and green and sustainable development.

Offering a detailed overview of Vietnam’s investment climate and opportunities, Dao Quoc Cuong, Investment Counsellor at the Vietnamese Embassy in France, highlighted the priority sectors, special economic zones, and preferential tax policies designed to attract foreign investors. His presentation was warmly received and described by French business leaders as highly informative and helpful for shaping new investment plans and expanding their presence in Vietnam.

Cuong emphasised that discussions centred on sectors of strategic importance to Vietnam’s investment agenda, notably the green economy, renewable energy, health care, and pharmaceuticals./.