A delegation from Quang Ngai Province met representatives of the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) and Electricite de France (EDF) on July 8 as part of a visit to France aimed at strengthening cooperation in green industrial development.
The meetings focused on expanding collaboration in green industry, clean energy, sustainable infrastructure, workforce training and investment promotion, opening new opportunities for cooperation between Quang Ngai Province and leading French organisations.
During talks with AFD, Nguyen Hoang Giang, deputy secretary of the Quang Ngai Provincial Party Committee and chairman of the provincial People's Committee, thanked Anne Roos-Weil, deputy director for Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia at AFD, for hosting the delegation. Giang also praised the agency's longstanding support for Vietnam and Quang Ngai Province through a range of development programmes.
AFD, the French government's public development finance institution, operates in more than 110 countries, providing official development assistance, financing and technical support for sustainable growth, climate action and inclusive development.
The agency has been active in Vietnam since 1995, supporting infrastructure, environmental protection and workforce development projects across the country.
In Quang Ngai Province, AFD has helped finance several major projects, including a USD 10 million stormwater drainage and flood prevention project, with AFD providing about 40 per cent of the funding. The agency also supported a USD 4 million irrigation project at Thach Nham and a USD 2.5 million equipment programme for Dung Quat College.
AFD was also among the first international partners to provide credit to Quang Ngai Sugar Joint Stock Company (QNS) to support the construction and expansion of its factories during the company's early years.
Giang said Quang Ngai Province has significant advantages for developing manufacturing, renewable energy, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, tourism, logistics and port infrastructure.
He highlighted Dung Quat Port, which can accommodate vessels of up to 200,000 deadweight tonnes (DWT), as a key asset supporting heavy industry and large-scale logistics services.
Giang called on AFD to continue sharing expertise in renewable energy, green industry and green finance, facilitate links between businesses in Quang Ngai Province and French companies, support the training of highly skilled workers for economic zones and industrial parks, and explore further cooperation in infrastructure development, technical capacity building and sustainable growth.
Later the same day, the delegation met executives from Electricite de France (EDF), led by Patrick Charignon, executive vice-president and Asia-Pacific regional director.
Giang said Quang Ngai Province hoped EDF would share its expertise in managing smart power grids, developing clean and renewable energy projects and introducing advanced technologies to support Vietnam's energy transition.
Provincial leaders also invited EDF to help connect French investors with major industrial locations, including Dung Quat Economic Zone, Bo Y International Border Gate Economic Zone, VSIP Quang Ngai, and other industrial parks in the province.
The delegation said it also sought closer cooperation with EDF in energy infrastructure development, green transition initiatives, technical workforce training and the development of modern industrial projects.