~ Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

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[Year 2002]

France pledges help for Vietnam's WTO bid

HANOI - France is committed to helping Vietnam join the World Trade Organization (WTO) and will continue with its assistance programs, says Antoine Pouillieute, France's new ambassador to Vietnam. "Through international organizations and diplomatic activities, France will continue to support Vietnam's bid for WTO membership," said the ambassador. "We have proposed special programs related to training, statistics, and institutional support, as well as intellectual property, the certification of Vietnamese products, and the fight against fake goods."

The ambassador said that much would be done to enhance economic and cultural co-operation between the two countries. France is Vietnam's No 1 non-Asian donor of official development assistance. The US$95 million it has pledged to donate Vietnam this year represents a 30 percent year-on-year increase. France is also Vietnam's No 1 non-Asian partner in foreign direct investment (FDI). With a combined investment of more than $2 billion, France accounts for 5.6 percent of investment licenses granted by the Vietnamese government to foreign investors since 1998. France now ranks sixth in Vietnam's FDI list.

Vietnam will receive help from France in setting up projects in education, health care, and urban, rural and infrastructure development, as well as the development of Francophone cultural activities. Among French-backed projects are the 2002 Hue Festival and a plan for a French University. "I do hope, if regulations on fair competition are fully respected, many projects initiated by French and European companies will be invested in Vietnam's telecommunications, transport, energy, and services industry," said Pouillieute.

Asia Times - February 12, 2002.