PANO – Two deals on environmental protection were signed at the French Embassy to Vietnam on the evening of April 8th in the presence of French Ambassador to Vietnam Jean-Noël Poirier, Chairman of the Hanoi Municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung, President of Mai Linh Group Ho Huy and Director for Asia-Pacific of Renault Roland Bouchara.

French Ambassador addressing the signing ceremony

The two deals include a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the French Embassy to Vietnam and local government on the French supplies of air quality measurement systems to Hanoi, and a contract between Vietnamese transportation group Mai Linh and French automobile Renault on the purchase of 100 Renault electric cars.

Addressing the event, the French Ambassador underscored the significance of the two agreements. According to him, the first deal would help local people understand the real environment situation in Hanoi and be aware of environmental protection.

He also said that he has loved Hanoi since he was first posted to the city to work at the French Embassy to Vietnam. “Now I love Hanoi as much as Paris,” the French Ambassador stated.

His love of Hanoi has prompted him to propose the project to install air-quality measurement systems in the capital city of Vietnam.

French Ambassador and Chairman of Hanoi Poeple's Committee signing environment deal

For his part, the Chairman of the Hanoi Municipal People’s Committee highly appreciated and thanked the French Ambassador’s initiative. He said that the local authorities are doing their best to boost the city development on one hand; and pay much attention to environmental protection with the aim of improving living conditions for the people. He also hoped that the French Embassy would continue to cooperate with and generously support the city in the future.

Meanwhile, the second signing between Renault and Mai Linh Taxi Company again serves as a practical solution for the city’s environment.

Representatives of companies signing purchase contract

According to leaders of Renault and Mai Linh, the provision of 100 electric cars is part of a project between the French automobile manufacturer and the Vietnamese taxi company to establish a fleet of environmentally friendly taxis in Vietnam’s major cities in order to reduce gas emissions.

President of Mai Linh Group Ho Huy revealed that the group’s ambitious plan to change all its petrol-run transportation vehicles to electric ones will be realized first in Hanoi and then in other big cities. “With the project, I myself and the group’s staff  hope to contribute to the common effort to fight environmental pollution,” he said.

Thu Nguyen