V.I.E. International Volunteers Program 2016 Award (Grand Prix V.I.E.) in Vietnam

Vietnam has currently 65 “International Volunteers” working for 40 French companies throughout the country as part of the V.I.E. (Volontaire International en Entreprise) program. “V.I.Es” are young French or European professionals below the age of 28 being offered 6 to 24 months paid internships in a variety of rewarding positions within French companies. The French government launched the V.I.E program and set an objective of 10.000 employed VIEs by the end of 2017.

The 5th V.I.E. International Internship Program Award (Grand Prix V.I.E.) in Vietnam was launched in spring 2016. All VIEs enrolled in the program prior to January 1st 2016 and still working by September 30th 2016 were eligible. Seventeen candidates applied for the Award and eight applicants were selected for oral interviews on the basis of a written dissertation exposing their contribution to the success of the company and their cultural adaptation to the Vietnamese society.

The objective of the VIE International Internship Program Award organized by Business France, is twofold:
- to promote the V.I.E program to (1) French companies in Vietnam: inform French subsidiaries about the V.I.E program as an effective alternative to local HR solution. Highlighting the V.I.Es’ professional and operational skills as well as their ability to carry out corporate projects by rewarding the best performances and to (2) V.I.Es themselves giving them the opportunity to value this unique experience and to demonstrate their skills by achieving successfully international corporate projects.
- to stimulate the existing V.I.E. alumni community in Vietnam and reward the best projects.

The 5th VIE International Internship Program Award in Vietnam is jointly organized by the French Foreign Trade Advisors in Vietnam, Business France Vietnam, the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam, the V.I.E. Club in Vietnam and the Economic Service under the Embassy of France in Vietnam. This 5th Award has received the support of many corporate partners such as BNP Paribas Vietnam, Servier Vietnam and Red Apron.

The four prizewinners will be introduced and rewarded on September 7th, 2016 in Ho Chi Minh City during the France-Vietnam Business Forum organized by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam and the CEO CLUB on the occasion of the State Visit of the President of the French Republic, François Hollande.

The four awards are:
- Grand Prix V.I.E (2,000 EUR): Best performance in all categories
- Award for Adaptability (1,500 EUR): Best adaptability to the business environment and local life
- Award for Performance (1,500 EUR):  Best contribution by a VIE to its company’s success
- Special Jury Award (1,500 EUR)

The four awards were handed in the presence of Muriel Pénicaud, Global CEO of Business France, Martine Pinville, Secretary of state in charge of commerce, handicraft, consumer affairs and social economy as well as Nguyen Thanh Phong, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City.