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Businesses, that accompany Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on his visit to France, have pulled in 10 economic deals worth almost US $6 billion.
The deals included a pact between the Vietnam Garment and Textile Corporation (Vinatex), the Tin Nghia company and the BNP Parisbas to issue Vinatex bonds worth US $500 million.
Another US $500 million contract was signed between the Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development and several French companies to aid Vietnamese farmers export coffee.
The Alstom company signed a deal to supply equipment valued at EUR 180 million (US $250 million) for the Son La Hydro-electricity project, the biggest of its kind so far in Vietnam.
The signing of the contracts took place on the sidelines of a business forum held in France on October 2, that drew over 500 business executives from Vietnam and France.
At the forum, PM Dung reiterated that French businesses would find Vietnam a favourable destination for their investment as there is a large French-speaking community in the country.
Earlier, on October 1, a gala night was held by the Vietnamese Embassy and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry to mark the Prime Minister’s visit.
Addressing a 500-strong audience, PM Dung highlighted the historic and cultural relationship between Vietnam and France, that has so far developed to comprehensive, trusted and long-term co-operation.
In reply, Minister of Economics and Finance Christian Lagarde affirmed the French Government’s policy to gear bilateral relations to a strategic dimension in the new development stage.
In the first three days of PM Dung’s visit that began on September 30, three Vietnamese films have won grand prizes at the recent national film festival were screened at the fully-packed La Pagode cinema.
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