The event was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in France’s Trade Office, the Rhon – Alpes Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Lyon Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Ho Thi Kim Thoa described France as a potential market for Vietnam’s export staples such as garment, leather, footwear, wooden furniture, aquatic and processing farm products.

Thoa suggested enhancing of French language training for the Vietnamese business community and Vietnamese youth in particular to boost Vietnam’s export to the European country.

She also asked the two countries’ businesses to make the most of trade agreements signed between the two countries and the upcoming Free Trade Agreement with the European Union.

French participants expressed their interest in the market, industrial development, and Vietnam’s policies to attract investment. They said Vietnam needs to tackle some obstacles, especially in infrastructure to meet the demand for socio-economic development.

A number of French businesses registered to visit Vietnam to seek trade cooperation next year.

France provides $1.5 billion for Vietnam water projects

The French Agency for Development (AFD), a financial institution of the French government, has provided 1.2 billion euros (over US$1.5 billion) in sponsoring water projects in Vietnam since 1993.

The aid given to 30 projects in Vietnam belonged to the fund for official development assistance, and has mainly been directed at clean water supply, reduction of water supply losses, and waste treatment, said AFD director Jean-Marc Gravellini at a press meeting held yesterday in Ho Chi Minh City.

From 1997 – 2011, the agency provided a financial aid totaling 345 million euros ($438 million). From this year on, it plans to provide 90 – 110 million euros ($114.3 – 139.6 million) per year, he added.

Though Vietnam has made great progress in improving water supply to communities in the last two decades, the issue remains a challenge to local governments, especially in industry and agriculture production.

In 1990, only 30 percent of the population in rural areas had access to clean water, a figure that rose to 83 percent in 2010.

Not only has AFD giving technical and financial aid to water projects, but it has also worked to call upon the community to work together in protecting water resources and the living environment, and eradicating sources of contamination. It sponsored the production of a trademark film entitled "La Soif du Monde” (The Thirst of the World) for this purpose.