Vietnamese products are known to French consumers. Photo: Loc Troi

The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is an opportunity for Vietnam to increase the export turnover of goods, especially with products that have strengths and competitive advantages, with commitments to eliminate import tax up to 99% between the two sides within 7-10 years.

Vu Anh Son, trade counselor at, the Vietnam Trade Office in France shared about the impacts of the EVFTA on Vietnam's export activities to the EU market as well as the French market.

After nearly three years of implementation, how do you assess the impact of the EVFTA on Vietnam's export activities to the EU market and the French market particularly?

The signed and implemented EVFTA opened an official path for Vietnamese goods, especially agricultural products, as well as Vietnamese lychees and rice, to have the opportunity to penetrate deeply into the EU market and the French market.

Currently, tariff incentives from EVFTA are creating good advantages for Vietnam's exports to the EU and French markets. Accordingly, Vietnam's export turnover to the French market is marking the first steps of development after signing the EVFTA.

Two-way trade between France and Vietnam is relatively stable, especially Vietnam's exports to France, and France is Vietnam's 4th largest trading partner in the European Union.

After a series of promotional, image-building, and consumer-oriented activities that the Vietnam Trade Office has deployed in France, Vietnamese products are gradually becoming known to local consumers.

With the implementation of the EVFTA, France, as well as Europe, are looking to diversify supply sources and investment in production, and currently, Vietnam is one of the potential destinations for French and EU investors.

The EVFTA not only brings opportunities but also challenges. What challenges will affect the export activities of Vietnamese enterprises to the EU and French markets?

Currently, the consumer trend towards short food supply chains is increasingly growing.

This, in addition to promoting domestically produced consumption, will affect Vietnamese goods if we do not pay proper attention and orient production towards high, distinctive added value.

The trend of combating climate change is posing new technical requirements for suppliers. Vietnamese businesses will have to constantly update information and quickly change to keep up with these trends.

Facing challenges, Vietnamese businesses need to build a community to share information to support each other during periods of supply shortage. Attention should be paid to the European market because it is a difficult market, requiring a lot of initial investment time and resources.

Vietnamese goods in French supermarkets. Photo: VNA

From the opportunities and challenges, to increase presence in the French and EU markets, what strategies and solutions do Vietnamese businesses need to build product brands?

The EU is currently the market with the 2nd largest import turnover in the world, of which France is Vietnam's 4th largest partner. However, Vietnam only accounts for about 2% of the EU's total import turnover.

Vietnamese goods are gradually finding a place in the French market Therefore, to increase the market share of goods in the EU as well as France, building and positioning the brand is extremely important.

Accordingly, the factors in building a brand are good products, good policies, and appropriate customer access channels. For businesses, to build a brand, they need to first have good products. Good products are not what businesses have but what customers need.

In addition, bringing Vietnamese goods to foreign distribution chains such as the French market and the European market helps sell goods directly in the distribution systems.

This is an effective and sustainable method for exporting goods and is of particular importance in building Vietnam's national brand.

What outstanding activities will the Vietnam Trade Office in France deploy to support businesses in accessing the French market and building sustainable and competitive brands?

France is a large and potential market, especially when EVFTA comes into effect, creating conditions for Vietnamese businesses to have opportunities to deeply participate in the French sales and distribution system.

Therefore, the Trade Office will continue to coordinate with domestic and French agencies, especially Vietnamese export enterprises, to access the French market in different forms, in accordance with the criteria of promoting exports to the French market.

The office will focus on promoting Vietnamese goods through trade promotion programs at exhibitions and French supermarket systems.

Vietnam Trade Office will focus on exploiting opportunities and finding potential partners for Vietnamese businesses wishing to develop new products that are highly competitive in the French market.

The office will research and promote the use of bonded warehouses associated with supermarket systems in France to propose businesses and industry associations to promote establishment/association with legal entities in France.

They take advantage of the large network of Vietnamese people here to support Vietnam's exports with the goal of consuming goods directly at French supermarkets and retail stores.

Along with that, the Trade Office will provide enough information through business forums, websites, and Facebook to guide businesses to be better prepared when approaching the French market and partners.

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