Vietnam creating best conditions for French firms: Top leader

Vietnam is committed to creating all favourable conditions, in accordance with legal regulations, for French investors in general and Airbus in particular to invest and conduct business effectively and sustainably in Vietnam, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam told Benoit De Saint-Exupery, Executive Vice President Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business at Airbus, on October 5 (local time) on the sidelines of the 19th Francophonie Summit in Paris.
Party General Secretary and President To Lam witnesses the signing of a cooperation document between Safran and Vietjet. (Photo: VNA)
Party General Secretary and President To Lam witnesses the signing of a cooperation document between Safran and Vietjet. (Photo: VNA)

During the meeting, the top Vietnamese leader congratulated Airbus on maintaining its position as the world's largest aircraft manufacturer for the fifth consecutive year, noting that Airbus's high-quality and modern-technology aircraft have been effectively utilised by corporations and private enterprises in Vietnam, helping enhance the country's economic connectivity and contributing to socio-economic development.

Expressing his pleasure as Airbus will be delivering a new aircraft to VietjetAir on this occasion, Lam highly valued its cooperation with and support for Vietnam in the aviation sector, affirming that Vietnam welcomes and hopes Airbus will continue to invest in its strengths, such as aerospace, and support Vietnamese partners in researching and evaluating aircraft to help select the most suitable ones and carry out highly efficient flights.

Appreciating Airbus's commitments to supporting Vietnam in improving the quality of aviation industry and training pilots, Lam suggested the corporation promptly study and invest in manufacturing plants for components, and joining the development of Vietnam's aviation industry ecosystem.

He also proposed that in is operations in Vietnam, with its extensive customer network and global supply chain, the French firm will continue to encourage and support French businesses and Airbus partners to increase investment in Vietnam; assist in the development of supporting industries, foster innovation linked with technology transfer, especially high-tech, green, and clean technologies; and assist Vietnamese businesses in improving production capabilities and competitiveness to participate in the global supply chain.

Saint-Exupery, who is also Member of the Commercial Aircraft Leadership Team, said Airbus has had a cooperative relationship with Vietnamese agencies and businesses for nearly 30 years, noting that the corporation is collaborating with Vietjet on a contract to supply A350 aircraft, and is working with the Vietnam Airlines to research and upgrade its fleet, along with other related cooperation programmes and projects.

He expressed the desire to collaborate with Vietnam, hoping that Vietnam will continue to facilitate Airbus's cooperation with relevant organisations and businesses to sustainably upgrade and develop aircraft.

Receiving Philippe ERRERA, Executive Vice-President, International & Public Affairs of Safran Group, Lam congratulated the group on its business performance, and highly valued its effective business cooperation activities in Vietnam.

According Lam, regarding aviation infrastructure development, Vietnam has issued a plan on implementing the Master Planning on airport development in the 2021-2030 period with a vision to 2050. Vietnam has also introduced an action plan for green energy transition aimed at reducing carbon and methane emissions in the transportation sector. In the strategy for the development and application of space science and technology by 2030, Vietnam has set goals to widely apply the achievements of space science and technology, focusing in investments in key areas related to national defence, security, natural resources and environment management, disaster monitoring and mitigation, and providing a variety of services to the public.

He underlined the need for involvement of experts, organisations, and multinational corporations in this field to leverage resources and experience to support Vietnam's implementation efforts to achieve these goals.

Lam expressed his hope that Safran, in particular, and French businesses in general will participate in supporting the development of the space industry in Vietnam in the coming time. He also suggested Safran engage and coordinate with the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology to specify collaborative activities in the near future.

For his part, Errera expressed his pride in cooperating with Vietnamese units and corporations, hoping to expand cooperation in many other areas where the group has strengths.

VNA