Investor confidence
Within the framework of the working program in France, on November 13 (local time) in Paris, the Vietnam - France Trade and Investment Dialogue 2024 took place with the participation of Mr. Nguyen Van Duoc - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of Long An province, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang, Mr. Christophe Bellanger - Vice President in charge of international affairs of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Paris Ile-de-France (CCI Paris Ile-de-France) and many businesses and investors in France and Vietnam.
The event was co-organized by CCI Paris Ile-de-France, the Embassy of Vietnam in France; the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and Long An province.
Speaking at the forum, Mr. Huynh Van Son - Vice Chairman of Long An Provincial People's Committee - shared: Long An possesses distinct advantages with a strategic location adjacent to Ho Chi Minh City, the only gateway connecting to the Mekong Delta provinces, conveniently connected through a synchronous transport infrastructure system and a modern international seaport.
Long An also stands out thanks to its abundant young human resources, large industrial land fund with systematic investment ready to receive investors. The economy has stable growth, the 12th largest economy in the country, and is the top 2 localities with the best economic management quality in Vietnam in 2023 according to the announcement of VCCI and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
This is the foundation that helps Long An province always maintain in the top 10 localities of Vietnam in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) with 1,367 projects from 41 countries and territories with a total registered capital of over 12.5 billion USD. Of which, French investors rank 2nd among the countries of the European Union investing in the province with 12 projects, total capital of over 161 million USD.
These figures demonstrate the confidence that French investors have in Long An. Long An provincial leaders are strongly committed to continuously improving infrastructure, simplifying administrative procedures and creating the most favorable conditions to be ready to welcome French investors to create successful breakthroughs and long-term development on Long An land.
Attracting and retaining investors
Assessing the potential of Vietnam in general and Long An in particular, Mr. Christophe Bellanger, Vice President of International Affairs of CCI Paris Ile-de-France, said that Long An has great potential for developing cooperation in technology, green energy, and renewable energy. Mr. Christophe Bellanger expressed his commitment to continue supporting Long An province in implementing and introducing the province's potential to attract the attention of French enterprises, helping them to invest in the province or export the province's products to the French market in particular and the European Union in general, contributing to strengthening the cooperative relationship between European partners and Long An province.
Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang also assessed that French enterprises are very interested in investment opportunities in Vietnam, especially in provinces with large industrial zones and favorable locations such as Long An. The Ambassador emphasized that provinces such as Long An need to proactively create more favorable conditions to attract and retain French investors, including promoting administrative procedure reform, developing industrial park infrastructure according to sustainable green standards, and ensuring high-quality human resources. These steps will help Long An become an attractive destination, a reliable address, bringing practical value to French investors as well as contributing to the economic development of the locality.
At a private meeting with the Paris Chamber of Commerce, Long An Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Van Duoc affirmed that this working program is a great opportunity for Long An province to call on French and European Union investors to come to Vietnam in general and Long An in particular, serving the task of building and developing the province's socio-economy. Provincial leaders said that green and clean energy is one of the potential areas for cooperation development, in addition, there are other industrial and high-tech fields that also promise many investment prospects in the coming time.
