Paris (VNA) – A roundtable discussinginvesting in and exporting to Vietnam was held by the enterprise club of theAssociation of Enterprises in the Ile-de-France region (MEDEF Ile-de-France) onMay 4.

The event drew many French businesses whichhave invested in and exported to Vietnam, as well as partners who want to learnabout Vietnam.

Michel Jonqueres, Chairman of theInternational Committee under MEDEF Ile-de-France, said that the two countrieshave yet to fulfill their economic and investment potential.

France’s exports to Vietnam were valued at1.7 billion EUR last year, accounting for only 1 percent of Vietnam’s imports,he said, suggesting French businesses expand operations in the Southeast Asiannation.

Agreeing with Jonqueres, VietnameseAmbassador Nguyen Ngoc Son said that France is the 15th biggesttrade partner of Vietnam. It is the 13th largest exporter to Vietnamand ranks 16th among countries and territories investing in theSoutheast Asian country.

At the event, representatives of Vietnamesetrade and investment promotion agencies in France presented the strengths ofVietnam’s investment climate, including stable political system, positive andsustainable growth prospects, competitive labour costs and high domesticdemand.

Le Cong Thanh, Counsellor in charge ofinvestment in France, stated that Vietnam wants to attract investment inhi-tech and environmentally-friendly fields, which are strengths of France.

Representatives from several Frenchenterprises shared their experience in doing business in Vietnam.

Some 300 French enterprises currently operatein Vietnam, with a total investment capital of 3.4 billion EUR, generating about26,000 jobs.

MEDEF Ile-de-France comprises of enterprisesfrom Paris and seven surrounding provinces.-VNA