French consul general urges Autumn Economic Forum to turn connections into concrete projects

Ranaivoson told Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper that the forum offers Ho Chi Minh City an opportunity to connect with international partners in areas such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and green growth, while showcasing the potential of the city and Vietnam’s economy.

International forums should go beyond showcasing technology

Sharing France’s experience in organizing international events, Ranaivoson cited VivaTech, a technology forum held in France.

Over the past decade, attendance at VivaTech has grown from 45,000 at its inaugural edition to more than 200,000 visitors from 165 countries in 2026. This year’s event brought together more than 15,000 startups and 4,500 exhibitors.

However, he said the success of such events should not be measured by their scale alone.

Their core value lies in connecting startups and businesses with major corporations and investors through business meetings and sessions specifically designed for the investment community.

Drawing on the VivaTech experience, Ranaivoson said the Autumn Economic Forum could become a platform for Ho Chi Minh City to bring international partners together to discuss shared priorities, from AI and digital transformation to green growth.

France is ready to share its experience and explore cooperation opportunities to help the city develop the forum and expand its regional and international influence, he added.

Hope for more concrete cooperation projects

Regarding Vietnam-France relations, Ranaivoson expressed hope that this year’s forum would help translate bilateral progress into concrete projects in Ho Chi Minh City, particularly in technology, innovation, and smart urban development.

He said the September visit to France by Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and the recent visit to Vietnam by French Minister Delegate for Francophonie, International Partnerships, and French Nationals Abroad Éléonore Caroit had provided fresh momentum for relations between the two countries.

During a meeting with Ho Chi Minh City leaders on October 17, the two sides identified opportunities to expand cooperation in finance, transport infrastructure, energy, urban planning, digital transformation, and high technology.

In the technology sector, Ranaivoson cited French quantum computing company Quandela’s signing of a memorandum of understanding with Vietnamese tech giant FPT covering research, cloud computing, and training.

Meanwhile, France’s European Center of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence (CAIE) has partnered with the HCMC C4IR. CAIE’s participation in this year’s forum is expected to create further opportunities to deepen the partnership.

“We hope the forum will create more opportunities for French and Vietnamese businesses, research institutions, and government agencies to connect, exchange experience, and explore new projects that meet Ho Chi Minh City’s development needs,” Ranaivoson said.

Business France, HCMC C4IR sign cooperation agreement

Business France and HCMC C4IR on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding on the sidelines of the Autumn Economic Forum 2026.

Business France is France’s national agency responsible for promoting French businesses internationally.

The agreement will help HCMC C4IR identify and reach out to French technology companies and startups.

The two sides will also exchange invitations to innovation forums and networking events in their respective countries.

Mathias Hebrard, director of Business France’s office in Ho Chi Minh City, told Tuoi Tre that the agency has two main missions: helping French companies establish relationships with local partners and attracting foreign investment to France.

“We can share information and connect the French business ecosystem through Business France with Vietnamese entrepreneurs and companies through C4IR. That is why we signed the memorandum of understanding, to strengthen and further develop cooperation between the two sides,” he said.

The Autumn Economic Forum 2026 2026 is taking place in Ho Chi Minh City from October 26 to 29 under the theme 'Collaboration in a New Era.'

For the first time, the forum's two main days, Tuesday and Wednesday, have been co-branded with the World Economic Forum.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung joined World Economic Forum Managing Director Stephan Mergenthaler for an onstage dialogue on Wednesday morning.

The dialogue was a key highlight of the forum, with the two discussing Vietnam's strategic position and development prospects amid the restructuring of the global economy.