Thirty businesses from the Vietnamese Defence Ministry on May 22 attended the France-Vietnam Business Forum in Paris ’s outskirts city of Neuilly-sur-Seine to seek potential partners in their fields.

The forum, co-organised by the Vietnamese Embassy’s Commercial Affair Office and the French municipal leaders, is part of Vietnam ’s national trade promotion plan approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Besides introducing their products, the businesses sought French partners, especially in construction, machinery, chemicals, garments and textiles, pharmacy, medical equipment, rubber, coffee and vocational training.

This is Vietnamese defence businesses’ first presence in the French market, said Head of the Economic Department under the Defence Ministry, Major-General Tran Trung Tin, who led the delegation to the forum.

France is one of Vietnam ’s major trade partners, he said, adding that many French businesses have shown their interest in Vietnamese defence enterprises, which contribute 8-10 percent to the national gross domestic product (GDP) annually.

Jean Christophe Fromantin, Vice Mayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine city located in the Il-de-France region, briefed on his city’s potential, describing the event as a starting point for cooperation between the locality and Vietnam , especially in the fields of each side’s strengths.

Alain Bui, an advisor at the Paris Il-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry, pledged that the chamber will do its best to steer the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises of Paris and the Il-de-France region to the Vietnamese market.

Earlier in April, 91 French businesses, including 26 from the French region, attended a business forum in Ho Chi Minh City .

The two sides have defined electricity, environment, farm product processing and transport infrastructure as promising areas of cooperation.-VNA