Head of the Vietnamese Trade Office Vũ Anh Sơn speaks at the forum on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo

PARIS — A hybrid forum to foster economic and trade exchange between Vietnamese enterprises and those in France’s Aix-Marseille Provence metropolitan area was held in Marseille city on September 23.

At the event, which was organised by the Aix-Marseille Provence Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) in collaboration with Honorary Consul in Marseille Nguyễn Công Tốt and the Vietnamese Trade Office in France, the Vietnamese business finance alliance expressed its hope to promote equal and win-win cooperation with French partners towards a long-term and sustainable partnership, adding the alliance is considering specific projects that Vietnamese firms could land investment in France in the coming time.

According to Tốt, the forum was an opportunity for French businesses to seek their partners in Việt Nam who operate in the areas of industry, trade, education and culture. It aimed at arranging a field trip to Việt Nam for a delegation of enterprises from Aix-Marseilles Provence in June next year, helping them set up win-win partnerships with their Vietnamese peers.

Meanwhile, Head of the Vietnamese Trade Office Vũ Anh Sơn told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s resident reporter that the forum offered a venue for Vietnamese and French businesses to discuss potential and challenges that they may face during their cooperation.

He held that Marseille and Aix-Marseille Provence as a whole boast strong economic potential with many enterprises engaging in international trade activities, adding it is necessary to build trust and develop sustainable ties with partners in the region as Vietnamese goods could access the French and other European markets through Marseille port.

Vice President of the Aix-Marseille Provence CCI Federic Ronal said approaching the Vietnamese market with a population of more than 100 million people will open up the door for French corporations to break into the large Asian market.