Ho Chi Minh City pitches for French investment

A conference promoting trade and investment in Ho Chi Minh City took place in Paris on October 8, attracting over 60 firms from France and abroad.
Ho Chi Minh City pitches for French investment ảnh 1A corner of Ho Chi Minh City (Source: VNA)  
Paris (VNA) – A conference promoting trade andinvestment in Ho Chi Minh City took place in Paris on October 8, attractingover 60 firms from France and abroad.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi MinhCity Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) Cao Thi Phi Van highlighted thestrengths and potential of Vietnam, and Ho Chi Minh City in particular, towardsattracting foreign investment.

She said that Vietnam has achieved an average growth of 6.22percent over the past five years, joined 12 bilateral and multilateral freetrade agreements, and negotiated six FTAs with more than 100 countries, addingthat its open policies have attracted many foreign investors.

Ho Chi Minh City, she stated, is an economic, cultural,education-training, science-technology hub in the southern key economic region anda trade centre in the region.

With an area of 2,095 sq.km, accounting for 0.63 percent ofthe country’s total and a population of more than 10 million people (or 10.68percent of the total), the city now contributes 31 percent of the national grossdomestic product, one third of the State budget, one fifth of the country’stotal exports, half of the foreign tourist arrivals, and 30 percent of thetotal foreign direct investment projects in Vietnam.

Last year, the city was the first locality to becomeeligible for special mechanisms approved by the National Assembly and Government,she said.

Chairman of the Paris Ile-de-France regional Chamber ofCommerce and Industry (CCIP IDF) Didier Kling affirmed that the CCIP IDF willwork closely with the ITPC to facilitate French investment in Ho Chi Minh City.

He said that Ho Chi Minh City boasts many strengths to attractinvestment and will become an important economic and trade hub in ASEAN.

According to him, over 300 French firms are doing businessin Vietnam, 70 percent of which are in Ho Chi Minh City. He added that they arehighly anticipating the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, which willtake effect in June 2019.

At the conference, the ITPC introduced the city’s high-techagriculture area, export processing and industrial zones, Japan’s TakenakaCorporation, and opportunities to join local projects.

Participants gained an insight into Vietnam’s policies andmechanisms for foreign firms which have been investing and will invest in thecity. –VNA
VNA

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