THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM
Government News
Viet Nam-France trade, investment ties expected to grow further
.VGP - The official visit to France by General Secretary and President To Lam and his attendance at the 19th Francophonie Summit are expected to boost the bilateral economic, trade, and investment ties.
Customers in France buy lychees imported from Viet Nam. Photo: VNA
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, two-way trade saw an average annual growth rate of 15.7 percent during the 2011-2019 period.
France is Viet Nam's fifth largest trade partner in Europe, making up a considerable share in the trade relations between Viet Nam and the continent.
In the first eight months of this year, the two-way trade exceeded US$3.4 billion, up 6.9 percent year-on-year, and Viet Nam's shipments fetched US$2.23 billion, a rise of 4.3 percent.
Viet Nam's key exports included footwear, garments-textiles, household utensils, agro-forestry-fishery products, jewelry, electronic items, ceramics, and rubber.
Meanwhile, Viet Nam mainly imported high-value and technology-intensive products from France like pharmaceuticals, machinery, equipment, and means of transport.
Experts said since the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic ties, Viet Nam and France have made significant strides in trade.
Notably, the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has opened up substantial opportunities and prospects, strengthening their economic and trade relations.
Head of the Vietnamese Trade Office in France, Vu Anh Son, said 2021 marked the inaugural year for the office's efforts to introduce Vietnamese fresh fruits, particularly lychee and longan, to the French market.
The same year, Vietnamese canned fruit products debuted at supermarkets there, followed by rice in 2022.
The office made such efforts in 2023 with various promotion events in France.
In 2024, it coordinated with the Vietnamese Cultural Centre in Paris and the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in organizing an extensive program honoring Vietnamese lychee.
Regarding the Vietnamese goods week at Carrefour supermarkets, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said it is significant to introduce Vietnamese products to French consumers.
The office also pledged to make more significant efforts to unleash the market, promote exporting some potential Vietnamese agro-fishery products, and attract French investors to Vietnam in the time ahead./.