Vietnam – a new dragon of ASEAN
(VOV) - Vietnam is considered a “new dragon” of ASEAN nations, said analysts at a seminar in Paris on January 15 to introduce Vietnam’s investment potential.
They said Vietnam is on the right track of development in the ASEAN bloc and has many prospects available for French businesses.
Addressing the seminar, Vietnamese ambassador to France Duong Chi Dung highlighted Vietnam’s achievements recorded in 25 years of renewal in the fields of economics, trade, investment, industry, agriculture, export and international integration. Over the last five years, Vietnam has reached an average economic growth of 7.5 percent.
In 2011 and 2012, despite the impact of the global economic downturn, Vietnam achieved economic growth rate of 5.9 percent and 5.2 percent respectively. Its exports rose from US$15 billion in 2001 to US$115 billion in 2012, of which foreign-invested businesses earned around US$72 billion, making up 63 percent of total export value.
Currently, Vietnam has welcomed investors from 90 nations and territories with a total of 13,700 projects capitalized at US$200 billion. Vietnam has established economic, trade and investment ties with more than 200 nations and territories in the world as well as international organisations and non-governmental organizations.
Two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and France increased by 13 percent to US$3.3 billion in 2012, US$2.9 billion higher than the previous year. Among European investors in Vietnam, France is second only to the Netherlands, with 340 projects capitalized at US$3 billion.
Dung said Vietnam and France are preparing to establish their strategic partnership within the framework of economics, trade and investment cooperation.