Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamstrongly supports efforts by the InternationalOrganisation of La Francophonie (OIF) to promote economic cooperation andconnect businesses in French-speaking countries, and as an active andresponsible member of the OIF, Vietnam will keep actively joining theseefforts.

So saidPermanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh while addressing the Vietnam - Francophonie high-level economic forum opened in Hanoi on March 24.

He said this is an importantforum as with 88 member countries and administrations, a combined population of1.2 billion, 16 percent of the world’s GDP, and 20 percent of global trade, theFrancophonie community boasts huge potential for economic development andcooperation, especially when all the members are doing their utmost forsocio-economic recovery and development.

Businesses play a substantialpart in the socio-economic recovery and green, sustainable, and inclusivedevelopment of all countries. Therefore, the Vietnamese Government has alwayslistened to the voice of businesses, tackled difficulties facing them,assimilated appropriate opinions, and created the best possible conditions fordomestic and foreign enterprises to do business and make investment, Minhnoted.

The cooperation potential inthe Francophonie economic space is considerable but has yet to be fully tappedinto, the Deputy PM went on. “With the resolve of governments, theparticipation and contributions of business communities, and support from internationalorganisations and partners, we can continue doing better for promoting thedevelopment of the Francophonie economic cooperation, thus translatingpotential into concrete, substantive, and mutually beneficial outcomes.”

In his remarks, Minister ofForeign Affairs Bui Thanh Son affirmed that his ministry will continue workingwith relevant ministries and sectors to encourage and assist foreign enterprises,including those from French-speaking countries, to explore opportunities andcarry out investment and business activities in Vietnam.

He said it will also helpVietnamese firms to operate abroad, including in Francophonie countries, inhighly potential areas like agriculture, processing industry, clean andrenewable energy, and digital products and services.

For her part, OIFSecretary-General Louise Mushikiwabo said the OIF has identified agriculture,forestry, food processing; innovation, renewable energy; and digitaltransformation as the three key areas for cooperation with the VietnameseGovernment as they will help enterprises further engage in global value chains.

Vietnam plays an important role in the Francophoniecommunity since it is one of the founding members of the OIF and also one ofthe fastest growing countries in Asia-Pacific, she said, congratulating Vietnamon its achievements in international integration, which is why the OIF chosethe country as the first destination of the OIF economic and trade delegationand the venue of the first OIF economic forum.

On this occasion, the Vietnamese Ministry of Agricultureand Rural Development and the Gabonese Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock,Fisheries and Food exchanged a letter of intent and a memorandum of understandingon cooperation. The Vietnam Tea Association and the Rwandese Federation of Tea Growersexchanged a letter of intent on cooperation./.