Hai Phong seeks new cooperation opportunities with French partners

A broader foundation for cooperation

Hai Phong’s relations with French partners have been maintained across a wide range of fields, from economy, seaports and logistics, and transport infrastructure to the environment, healthcare, education and culture.

Among them, relations with the city of Brest are a highlight at the local level. Established in 2007, Hai Phong-Brest cooperation has focused on areas where the two port cities share many similarities.

Alongside local-level cooperation, many French agencies and businesses continue to show interest in the city’s investment environment, infrastructure development and areas of strength. As of the end of June 2026, France had six valid projects in Hai Phong, with total registered capital of about USD 55.5 million. Two-way trade reached about USD 119.52 million in 2025 and USD 63.85 million in the first six months of 2026, up 24.4% year on year, with exports rising by 43.3%.

Jean-Alexandre Egea, Economic Counselor and Head of the Economic Department at the French Embassy, spoke highly of Hai Phong’s investment environment, adding that alongside French businesses already implementing projects in Hai Phong, many others are also interested in and seeking opportunities for cooperation and investment in the city.

Among them, the project to develop berths 7 and 8 at Lach Huyen International Port by CMA CGM in cooperation with Saigon Newport Corporation, with total investment of about USD 600 million, is clear evidence of the potential for cooperation in seaports and logistics.

The project also provides a further basis for Hai Phong to expand relations with Marseille, home to CMA CGM’s global headquarters, opening up opportunities for deeper cooperation between the two port cities.

Along with seaports, the French side is involved in research into the modernization of the Ha Noi-Hai Phong railway through Systra Company. SUEZ Company is carrying out industrial wastewater and waste treatment activities and developing an eco-industrial park model in Nam Cau Kien.

In healthcare, education, heritage and culture conservation, cooperation between hospitals, Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, and Tran Phu High School for the Gifted and their French partners continues to be maintained.

New cooperation directions

Vice Chairman of the Hai Phong People’s Committee Hoang Minh Cuong said the city always creates favorable conditions for French businesses to invest and cooperate on a long-term basis. There remains considerable room for cooperation between the two sides, particularly in transport infrastructure, seaports, logistics, science and technology, the environment, digital transformation, healthcare, education and training.

These orientations also receive support from the French side. Jean-Alexandre Egea affirmed that he would continue connecting French enterprises with Hai Phong and promoting cooperation in infrastructure, the environment, logistics, the conservation of French architecture, and stronger links between localities of the two countries. This will provide a further basis for Hai Phong to turn cooperation opportunities into concrete outcomes in the new period.

Against this backdrop, the State visit to France by Party General Secretary and President To Lam and a high-level Vietnamese delegation creates additional favorable conditions for Vietnamese localities, including Hai Phong, to expand relations with French partners. Cooperation orientations at the national level will provide further momentum for the city to continue seeking partners, concretizing existing relations and opening up new areas of cooperation.

Building on the foundations already in place, what is important for Hai Phong is to turn cooperation opportunities into specific programs and projects. This will enable the city to make better use of the resources, technology and experience of French partners in pursuit of green, modern and sustainable development.

BUI HANH