Phu Tho Promotes Foreign Affairs and Investment Promotion in the French Republic

Within the framework of a working trip to Europe, from October 29 to 30, 2026, a working delegation from Phu Tho province led by Comrade Tran Duy Dong — Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee — deployed a series of foreign affairs, investment promotion, and key cooperative connection activities in the French Republic.

The working trip aimed to realize strategic directions in attracting high-quality investment resources and transferring advanced technology, while elevating friendly cooperative relations between the locality and strategic partners in Europe during the new development period.

Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Tran Duy Dong introducing local potential and strengths, proposing 6 priority cooperation fields with French partners at the Phu Tho Province Investment Promotion Conference in Paris (France).

Affirming Stature, Attracting High-Quality Investment Waves in Paris

On October 29, in Paris, the Phu Tho province working delegation chaired the Phu Tho Province Investment Promotion Conference in the French Republic.

Attending the conference were Comrade Trinh Duc Hai — Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to France; Mr. Nguyen Hai Nam — President of the Association of Vietnamese Entrepreneurs in France; representatives of the Île-de-France Regional Chamber of Crafts and Artisanship; alongside numerous organizations, associations, economic groups, and investors from France and Vietnam.

Overview of the Phu Tho Province Investment Promotion Conference in the French Republic.

Delivering opening remarks at the conference, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Tran Duy Dong emphasized: With a new development space following breakthrough steps in perfecting the administrative apparatus and streamlining organization, Phu Tho possesses outstanding potential and strengths regarding strategic location, modern industrial park infrastructure, high-quality human resources, and a dynamic economic base.

In 2025, Phu Tho’s economic scale reached nearly 16 billion USD (ranking 6th nationwide), GRDP grew by 10.52%; during the first 9 months of 2026 alone, GRDP continued to maintain an impressive growth rate of 10.01%, with total import-export turnover reaching nearly 110 billion USD. Phu Tho currently hosts 755 FDI projects with total registered capital of approximately 15.5 billion USD originating from 27 countries and territories.

Representatives of Vietnamese and French agencies and enterprises attending the Phu Tho Province Investment Promotion Conference in France.

On the foundation of the Vietnam–France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and advantages from the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), the Chairman oriented 6 core fields in which Phu Tho prioritizes attracting investment from the French Republic, including: High-tech and supporting industries (manufacturing electronic components, precision mechanics, automation, new materials, and semiconductor industry linked with technology transfer); infrastructure and green growth (developing eco-industrial park infrastructure, modern logistics, renewable energy, and advanced wastewater treatment and management); healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology (developing high-quality healthcare systems, medical digital transformation, and microalgae applications in environmental treatment); education, training, and research–development (linkages between enterprises, universities, and research institutes of both countries); high-tech agriculture (deep processing of agricultural and forestry products fulfilling strict European market standards); cultural industry and tourism (preserving cultural heritage linked with sustainable tourism development).

Chairman of the Phu Tho Provincial People’s Committee Tran Duy Dong, Ambassador of Vietnam to the French Republic Trinh Duc Hai, and Mr. Nguyen Hai Nam — President of the Association of Vietnamese Entrepreneurs in France — at the discussion and exchange session on investment cooperation opportunities, Phu Tho Province Investment Promotion Conference in France.

Under the moderation of Chairman Tran Duy Dong, Ambassador Trinh Duc Hai, and Mr. Nguyen Hai Nam, the discussion and exchange session on investment cooperation opportunities took place in an open, candid, and efficient atmosphere.

Representatives of French organizations and enterprises exchanged cooperative opportunities in vocational training, tourism, food processing, clean energy, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and biotechnology.

Several enterprises introduced automation solutions in food processing, flavor manufacturing, and AI applications in management and operations; while expressing interest in renewable energy and microalgae technology to treat water and generate aquaculture feed sources.

Representatives of the Île-de-France Regional Chamber of Crafts and Artisanship also expressed a desire to cooperate with the province in vocational training, handicraft development, and tourism.

Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Tran Duy Dong affirmed that Phu Tho province commits to always opening its doors and creating the most favorable conditions for French enterprises and overseas Vietnamese in Europe coming to invest and do business in Phu Tho.

Affirming the consistent message of “Fast Procedures — Safe Environment — Effective Investment — Sustainable Development,” the Chairman committed that Phu Tho always opens its doors and extends the best preferential conditions and support for French enterprises and the overseas Vietnamese community in Europe coming to invest and conduct business.

The province consistently accompanies and resolves difficulties for investors under fast, transparent handling mechanisms from initial field surveys and legal procedures throughout project operations; while maximizing preferential policies regarding taxes, land rental fees, and technical infrastructure support up to project boundaries.

Ambassador of Vietnam to France Trinh Duc Hai speaking at the Phu Tho Province Investment Promotion Conference in the French Republic.

Speaking at the conference, Ambassador Trinh Duc Hai stated: The EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) creates a favorable framework for trade activities and market access between both sides, based on satisfying rules of origin and related requirements.

Highly appreciating Phu Tho province’s proactiveness, Ambassador Trinh Duc Hai affirmed that the Embassy of Vietnam in France will act as an active bridge, ready to support partner connections and organize field surveys at Phu Tho’s industrial parks to concretize potential into practical projects.

Members of the Phu Tho province investment promotion delegation alongside leaders and staff of the Embassy and representatives of the Association of Vietnamese Entrepreneurs in France attending the Phu Tho Province Investment Promotion Conference in France.

Breakthroughs in Infrastructure and Technology Cooperation with Leading Corporations

Within the working program in Paris, the delegation held an in-depth working session with the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF International) and Artelia Group. Receiving and working with the delegation was Mr. Benoît Clocheret — Vice President of MEDEF International, Chairman of the France–Vietnam Business Council, and CEO of Artelia Group.

Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Tran Duy Dong and the provincial leadership delegation working with the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF International).

At the working session, Chairman Tran Duy Dong requested MEDEF International to continue promoting its role as a bridge, driving major French technology, energy, infrastructure, and logistics corporations to explore the investment environment in Phu Tho.

Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Tran Duy Dong and the Phu Tho provincial leadership delegation presenting commemorative gifts to Mr. Benoît Clocheret — Vice President of MEDEF International, Chairman of the France–Vietnam Business Council, and CEO of Artelia Group.

Regarding Artelia Group — a world leader in engineering consulting and project management — provincial leaders expressed the desire to strengthen cooperation in research, consulting for urban infrastructure development, smart transportation, eco-industrial park planning, water resource management, and environmental protection.

Highly appreciating Phu Tho’s development potential, Mr. Benoît Clocheret committed to coordinating the organization of French business delegations to conduct field surveys and seek cooperative opportunities in semiconductor technology, clean energy, and supply chain development.

The Phu Tho province working delegation working with the Embassy of Vietnam in France.

— Visiting and working with officials and staff of the Embassy of Vietnam in France, Comrade Tran Duy Dong requested the Embassy to continue supporting the province in foreign information work and promoting the Ancestral Land’s image; serving as a bridge to attract intellectual and financial resources from the Vietnamese entrepreneur and overseas community in Europe toward building the homeland.

Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Tran Duy Dong and the Phu Tho provincial leadership delegation presenting gifts to Ambassador Trinh Duc Hai and officials and staff of the Embassy of Vietnam in France.

Ambassador Trinh Duc Hai highly evaluated the proactiveness and decisiveness of Phu Tho provincial leaders in international investment promotion. Affirming consistent companionship with domestic localities, the Ambassador committed to actively supporting Phu Tho in information connectivity and introducing potential partners—contributing to driving cooperative relations in investment, trade, and cultural exchange between Phu Tho province and French partners to increasingly go into depth and achieve practical efficiency.

The working delegation taking a commemorative photo with members of the Embassy of Vietnam in France.

Expanding Substantive Local Diplomacy in Nevers City

On October 30, the Phu Tho province working delegation visited and worked in Nevers city (Nièvre department). Comrade Tran Duy Dong alongside the working delegation held talks with Mr. Denis Thuriot — Mayor of Nevers City, President of Nevers Agglomération Urban Community — and Mr. Jean-Philippe Richard — President of the Nièvre Departmental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI Nièvre).

Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Tran Duy Dong working with Mr. Denis Thuriot — Mayor of Nevers City, President of Nevers Agglomération Urban Community — and Mr. Jean-Philippe Richard — President of the Nièvre Departmental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI Nièvre).

At the working session, Comrade Tran Duy Dong respectfully thanked the leadership of Nevers city government and CCI Nièvre for their respectful reception; while expressing deep impression at the locality’s historical, cultural values, and socio-economic development efforts.

Nevers city stands out not only with architectural works and cultural heritage along the Loire River, but also possesses strengths in mechanical engineering, automotive industry, technical training, and innovation.

Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Tran Duy Dong alongside the working delegation hearing introductions to Nevers' history and strengths.

Mayor Denis Thuriot evaluated that Phu Tho and Nevers possess many complementary potentials. Introducing local strengths, he emphasized precision mechanics, smart transport, supporting industries, wood and food processing, smart urban areas, and digital technology; while introducing Nevers' traditional faïence ceramic craft heritage.

The Mayor also shared experience regarding cooperation between the Nevers Hospital Center and Vietnamese medical staff, considering this a practical connection channel contributing to strengthening relations between citizens of both countries.

Mayor Denis Thuriot strongly agreed with Phu Tho province’s proposals, emphasizing that cooperation needs to target concrete results, taking business connections and real project execution as core focus points.

In an open and substantive spirit, both sides agreed to drive comprehensive cooperation across complementary strength fields. Priorities include: industry and training (connecting automotive industry supply chains, precision mechanics, automation; driving training cooperation between the Higher Institute of Automotive and Transport (ISAT - France) with Hung Vuong University and vocational education institutions in Phu Tho province); urban governance and environment (sharing digital transformation experience, building smart cities, managing water resources, waste treatment, and public health); culture and tourism (stepping up cultural exchanges, sharing heritage preservation experience; promoting values of representative intangible cultural heritages of humanity such as the Worship of Hung Kings in Phu Tho and Phu Tho Xoan Singing, linked with experiencing Nevers' cultural heritage and traditional faïence ceramic art).

Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Tran Duy Dong alongside the working delegation taking a commemorative photo with Nevers city leaders and leaders of the Nièvre Departmental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI Nièvre).

To ensure exchanged contents early bear fruit, Chairman Tran Duy Dong assigned the Provincial Investment Promotion and Enterprise Support Center as the continuous focal point—coordinating with relevant departments and sectors to proactively maintain contact with the Embassy of Vietnam in France, MEDEF International, Nevers city government, and CCI Nièvre; promptly providing information, supporting procedures, and readying to receive French survey delegations visiting to work and deploy projects in Phu Tho.

The working trip of the Phu Tho provincial leadership delegation to the French Republic ended in great success, opening up promising new cooperative prospects, affirming innovative thinking, strategic vision, and high political determination of provincial leadership in efforts to bring Phu Tho toward rapid, sustainable development and deep international integration in the new period.

PV