AB VietFrance Chairman Nguyen Hai Nam, an open-hearted middle-aged overseas Vietnamese, who speaks Vietnamese  fluently, said the idea to establish a Vietnamese business association came to mind when he was working for a French company’s project.

“I thought the association would help me and my company very much,” he said.

AB VietFrance was founded to meet the demand of the development of France-Vietnam economic cooperation. It aimed to increase the two-way trade by aligning all resources of the Vietnamese community in France as well as those who have a close relationship with it.

“We decided to choose September 2 as the founding day of the association because we wanted to emphasise that we are always directed to our homeland,” Nam said.

There have been advantages for the association since it was founded, one of which he said, is a real demand for information about investment activities on both sides, adding that the workload at AB VietFrance has always been exhausting.

The association has also been supported by both overseas Vietnamese and French people who hope to promote the France-Vietnam cooperation, which is said not on par with their potential.

Nam said that during its first year in operation, the AB VietFrance received 30 projects of all kinds in France and Vietnam.

The Chairman said it took him much time and energy to establish the association but he now feels very happy, especially when the first members joined and when he received the first donations and projects.

Despite living in France, Nam confided that he is always thinking of his fatherland.