On October 16, 2024, French Ambassador Olivier Brochet delivered a keynote speech at Franconomics 2024, a forum held at VinUniversity. His address emphasized the growing cooperation between France and Vietnam, particularly following the recent visit of Vietnamese General Secretary Tô Lâm to France.

Olivier Brochet, French Ambassador to Vietnam

The forum, themed “Renewable Energy: A Scenario for a Green Future,” focused on the two countries’ collaboration in transitioning to renewable energy. Ambassador Brochet highlighted the recently established Global Strategic Partnership between France and Vietnam, which aims to drive future projects related to energy transition. He praised Vietnam’s ambitious commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and gradually phasing out fossil fuels by the 2040s.

France, through the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), has committed €500 million to support Vietnam’s energy transition efforts. French organizations, including the French Development Agency (AFD), are actively involved in improving Vietnam’s energy infrastructure, such as modernizing the power grid. 

The Ambassador also discussed France’s GEMMES program, which is entering its second phase to help Vietnam manage its energy transition. He invited Vietnam to join the Coal Transition Accelerator (CTA), a global initiative to speed up the phase-out of coal. Additionally, he highlighted the contributions of French companies like EDF and Total Energies in advancing Vietnam’s renewable energy initiatives. 

Looking ahead, Ambassador Brochet outlined key areas for future cooperation, including green hydrogen, nuclear energy, and innovative energy research. These efforts will be further showcased during the Franco-Vietnam Year of Innovation, set to take place in mid-2025. He reaffirmed France’s commitment to working closely with Vietnam to develop solutions tailored to the country’s unique energy challenges. 

Franconomics 2024, co-organized by the International Francophone Institute (IFI), the Center for Environmental Intelligence (CEI) at VinUniversity, the International Organization of La Francophonie, and Jean Moulin Lyon 3 University, was a significant event that addressed pressing energy challenges in Vietnam and other Francophone countries, with a focus on sustainable and innovative solutions.