The first Viet Nam–France agricultural economic forum took place in Paris on October 10, bringing together representatives from French business associations, major retailers, and nearly 40 Vietnamese enterprises from various sectors to exchange experiences, explore cooperation opportunities, and promote bilateral trade relations.

The event was jointly organised by Central Retail Viet Nam, MEDEF International – a non-profit private-funded organisation created by the French business confederation MEDEF, and the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), with support from the Viet Nam Trade Office in France.

At the forum’s opening ceremony, government and business representatives from both sides shared insights into the co-operation potential through keynote speeches. Following the presentations, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony and B2B business networking sessions were held.

Central Retail Viet Nam and Verger de la Blottière, one of France’s leading apple growing and exporting cooperatives, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the potential for cooperation in bringing high-quality French apples to the Vietnamese market.

In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang affirmed that the forum was not merely a meeting, but a demonstration of the tangible progress in the comprehensive strategic partnership between Viet Nam and France.

He emphasised that Viet Nam does not aim to remain merely “the world’s rice bowl,” but is striving toward a smart, modern, and sustainable agricultural sector. The country also seeks recognition not just as a market, but as a sustainable and strategic production base for France in Southeast Asia and the broader Asia-Pacific region.

Nguyen Thao Hien, Deputy Director of the MoIT’s Department of Foreign Market Development, noted that nearly 40 leading Vietnamese enterprises at the forum represented key export sectors such as agricultural and processed food products, textiles, and handicrafts. Their direct participation in France demonstrates Viet Nam’s strong commitment to diversifying export markets and expanding cooperation with France and the EU.

Paul Le, vice president for trade promotion at Central Retail Viet Nam, said the company, as an international retailer, is committed to supporting Vietnamese exporters in studying the French market and consumer culture, thereby helping them identify partners and introduce Vietnamese goods to France and Europe at large.

Speaking to the Viet Nam News Agency (VNA)'s reporters in Paris, Jean Paul Torris, a representative of MEDEF International, highlighted Viet Nam’s clear strategic message of transforming from a major exporter of agricultural commodities such as coffee, rice, and seafood into an economy that creates higher value-added agricultural products with greater processing depth.

He stressed that Viet Nam’s call for cooperation is mutually beneficial. It enables Viet Nam to enhance value creation in its export supply chain, while providing French businesses an opportunity to expand their presence in a region of global strategic importance.