Investing 11

January 3-9, 2022 l www.vir.com.vn

Sustainability
solutions for
production zones
Investment flows into
industrial zones have
been moving towards
a smart model. Hong
Sun, vice chairman of
the Korea Chamber of
Business in Vietnam,
talked with VIR’s Bich
Thuy about sustain-

Photo: VNA
able investment trends
in the field.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with French counterpart Jean Castex in November

Heralding new options Industrial zones (IZs) and

economic zones (EZs)
have been hit hard by
COVID-19. What solutions
until now.
The majority of IZs now
focus on the construction of
energy- and water-efficient

for French investors

have they been implement- factories. However, we also
ing to mitigate the disrup- need to change our approach
tion of manufacturing, towards building complexes
supply chains, and trade to of schools, housing areas for
French investors are remaining one of the big- ing input materials, lack support investment? workers, and other neces-
gest European investors in Vietnam heading into of workforce, and supply Nearly two years since sary services at IZs and EZs.
chain disruption? the COVID-19 pandemic This would minimise the
2022. Adam Koulaksezian, executive director of In recent decades, Viet- began, our daily lives have movement of labourers back
The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry nam has performed strongly been seriously affected, and to the countryside and prob-
in Vietnam (CCIFV), shared with VIR’s Thanh Van in attracting key investors in now we are entering the new lems in the implementation
about the investment activities of French busi- electronics, footwear, and normal – a time of living of “stay-at-work” policies.
nesses in 2021 and their upcoming activities in textiles. In order to attract with COVID-19. Togeth- It is high time for us to
more FDI and boost Viet- er with pandemic preven- consider adopting smart IZ
the time to come.
nam’s economic growth, tion and control measures, models and transform pro-
the authorities should keep we need to ensure business duction and infrastructure
lifting various restrictions and production activities accordingly.
How did the operations of foreign direct investment a plan for the progressive especially regarding inter- to maximise efficiency and The Vietnamese govern-
French businesses in Viet- (FDI) keeps growing. Viet- reopening of the country. national flights and quaran- achieve the government’s ment is accelerating digital
nam pan out in 2021 and nam’s favourable conditions These elements are very tine regulations. double target. transformation as well as
what are the prospects for for doing business, namely positive for Vietnam, and The business hardship IZs and EZs are home Industry 4.0. The country
French investment in 2022? its strategic location, sta- we see that more flexibil- is not completely over, but to many manufacturing fac- should take advantage of
Our companies and ble political system, ample, ity is needed for the return Vietnam remains an appeal- tories. Many of them had local resources and learn
members have been strongly young and tech-savvy work- of international experts and ing option for French inves- to implement the “stay-at- from the experiences of
impacted by the pandemic, force, and a relatively open to facilitate business travel tors to continue their busi- work” operation model for other countries, for exam-
especially French compa- environment for FDI, has if Vietnam wants to attract ness or even relocate their extended durations under ple South Korea, to develop
nies abroad that are not eli- cemented its position as a more French investors. manufacturing operations the pandemic, posing many smart industrial park (IPs)
gible for French financial safe and stable destination Our organisation from other Asian countries. difficulties for them. There- models to fit the particular
aid and do not benefit from for investment. belongs to an international At CCIFV, we believe that fore, urgent measures to conditions and demands of
the support of a headquar- network of 126 chambers supply chains will con- deal with breaks in man- each region.
ters in that country. What do you think of the and we have seen a strong tinue to be stretched but ufacturing, supply chains,
Faced with this situation, efforts of the Vietnamese attraction for Vietnam over global demand for prod- and trade include the syn- What policies should Viet-
the CCIFV has made its government to ensure the the last two years. The ucts remains high. With its chronous construction of nam focus on to channel
visibility and extensive net- investment environment for CCIFV is at the full dispos- reasonable labour costs, IZ and EZ infrastructure to foreign investment, espe-
work available to put com- foreign investors? al of the Vietnamese gov- reliable infrastructure, and develop sustainably in the cially South Korean capi-
panies in difficulty in touch This pandemic has not ernment to encourage and smooth bureaucratic pro- context of COVID-19. tal, into the development of
with volunteer experts for made decisions easy, but support French investment cess, Vietnam can navigate Moreover, developers smart IPs?
advice and companies ready the Vietnamese government in Vietnam. the new normal and get should consider supporting To attract foreign direct
to invest. We were able to had very good management ready for new flows of FDI. projects so that in case of investment, the country
see the strength of our net- of the pandemic in 2020. In What are your recom- The government should an incident, IZs and EZs can needs to build long-term
work and the great solidarity 2021, it was able to adapt mendations to address the allocate more capital for ensure basic daily activities policies. Accordingly, the
of our French business com- and make the choice to live challenges of businesses social assistance programmes on their own and achieve country needs developed
munity in this unprecedent- with the pandemic, to set up post-pandemic such as ris- and support recovery by autarky. infrastructure as well as a
ed context. alleviating companies’ tax- complete and consistent
The prospects for es. Vietnam’s socio-political What new trends have you legal framework, and incen-
French investment in Viet- stability, policies, and mea- seen in Vietnam to promote tives for skilled workforce,
nam in 2022 are promis- sures to step up vaccination sustainable development along with simplified admin-
ing, as illustrated by the will allow the country to as land resources grow istrative procedures. Only
recent visit of Prime Min- overcome challenges, while increasingly limited? when the country can create
ister Pham Minh Chinh to The business hardship is not completely the French Chamber of Com- At present, there are a an ideal working environ-
France and the signing of merce and Industry will con- lot of IZ projects underway. ment and living place will
no less than 29 major coop- over, but Vietnam remains an appealing tinue to showcase successful However, I think that it is it be able to attract foreign
eration agreements. option for French investors to continue their business development and time for us to develop them investors from all over the
We also recall the impor- promote international net- in a new way, departing world, including powerful
tance of the EU-Vietnam business or even relocate their operations. working and exchange of from the traditional methods South Korean technology
Free Trade Agreement, and best practices in Vietnam.n we have been employing groups.n