Vietnam urges Airbus to cooperate in aircraft repair, maintenance

Airbus should conduct technology transfer and further cooperate with Vietnamese airlines, especially in opening aircraft repair and maintenance hangars at airports.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh made the suggestion at a Friday meeting with French Minister of Transport Philippe Tabarot, as part of further collaboration between Vietnam and France in transportation.

Airbus is now the biggest aircraft supplier for Vietnamese airlines.

Chinh also called on France to collaborate with Vietnam in aviation economy, aerospace and underwater exploitation, seaport, railway, launch of new transportation routes to Vietnam, and public-private partnerships (PPP) in road development.

The government chief suggested France help Vietnam with workforce training, technology transfer, preferential loans, and management in the transport sector.

Development of logistics infrastructure can lift Vietnam’s economic growth as logistics cost in Vietnam is now as high as 17-18% of the GDP, Chinh clarified.

In reply, the French minister said France is willing to boost the ties with Vietnam in transport, especially in deployment of key projects, workforce training, and high-speed railway.

Vietnamese Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang last week suggested Airbus study and invest in making components and developing the aviation industry in Vietnam.

Thang also called on Airbus to support its partners and French companies to expand investments in Vietnam, especially in developing the supporting industry, technology transfer, innovation, green technology, and helping Vietnamese firms further join the global supply chain.