Biotrade initiative to develop natural ingredient sector in Vietnam financed by SECO

21.06.2017 — Local news Vietnam

Hanoi, 20 June 2017 - The BioTrade SECO project organized the Vietnam Project Launching Ceremony of the Regional BioTrade Project South East Asia.  The new project is financed by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), a Swiss Government Agency, and implemented in Vietnam by HELVETES Vietnam, a Swiss-based, international Non-Government Organization. The total funding of the project for Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar is USD 4.9 million. Fund allocation for Vietnam component and Vietnam PMU is USD 2.7 million from 2017 to the end of 2020.

Swiss Import Promotion Program SIPPO to build export service capacity in Vietnam

02.06.2017 — Local news Vietnam

Hanoi, June 2, 2017 - the Swiss Import Promotion Program SIPPO is funded by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland (SECO) with CH 19.4 mio for four years (2017 – 2020) to boost export and create new jobs and incomes from eleven developing and transition countries. In Vietnam, the program will be implemented by Swisscontact Foundation in partnership with Helvetas Vietnam though strengthening long-term stable export structures in two sectors: technical wood and added value textile.

Swiss funded satellite technology generates big impact in rice monitoring

26.05.2017 — Local news Vietnam

Switzerland has funded pilot phase (2012-2015) and the scale up phase (2015-2017) the RIICE project in Vietnam as part of its global support to several rice producing countries. The concept of the project is to use high quality, free of charge satellite data that has been recently made available internationally for the monitoring of rice production, natural disasters (notebly floods and droughts). After the pilot phase in 2 provinces, the concept has been proved to work perfectly in providing a cost-effective way of providing accurate, unbiased and timely data. In the scale up phase, the project is implemented in 8 provinces in the Red river Delta and 2 other ones in the Mekong Delta.

MARD expreesed its willingness to continue the project and expand to cover other major rice producing provinces as well.

Kick-off workshop - Mekong Urban Flood Proofing and Drainage Project

31.03.2017 — Local news Vietnam

The Mekong delta and its important role to Vietnam’s socio-economic development is particularly vulnerable to climate change and flood-related disasters. To address this challenge, SECO has recently developed the “Mekong Urban flood proofing and drainage project” in cooperation with its implementing partner GIZ. On 30 March 2017, the implementation of this project was successfully kicked off in Can Tho in a workshop with more than 60 representatives from the Ministry of Construction of Vietnam (MOC), An Giang, Kien Giang and Ca Mau province, SECO, GIZ and other relevant stakeholders.

Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production helps improve competitiveness of Vietnam’s rice sector

21.03.2017 — Local news Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City, 3 March, 2017 – Vietnam is known as one of the world’s biggest rice producer and exporter. However, it is facing fierce competition from other countries due to fragmented value chain with low quality and high production costs. Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has successfully supported the rice sector during the last four years to apply resource efficient and cleaner production methods to address these challenges.    

Improving social dialogue, productivity and working conditions is key to Viet Nam’s integration success

24.10.2016 — Local news Vietnam

HANOI (ILO News) – The agenda of social dialogue, productivity and working conditions is becoming more important than ever as Viet Nam is entering a new era of deeper global integration.

This is the main message of a conference jointly organized by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland (SECO), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) today in Hanoi.

High Level Delegation from Switzerland pays offcial visit to the Business Registration Office in Hanoi

11.10.2016 — Local news Vietnam

During her official visit to Vietnam, State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Ms Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch, took the opportunity to visit the Business Registration Office (BRO) in Hanoi’s Cầu Giấy district. The BRO has been supported in the context of Switzerland’s economic development cooperation that works through one of its flagship program to simplification business registration processes in cooperation with Vietnam’s Agency for Business Registration (ABR). Starting a business has become much easier in Vietnam and it can be done in only 3 days while legally binding information of over half a million active enterprises is now accessible online.

Switzerland announces New Development Cooperation Strategy 2017 - 2020 with Vietnam

11.10.2016 — Local news Vietnam

The Swiss State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Ms Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen Fleisch, together with Vice Minister Nguyen The Phuong, Ministry of Planning and Investment, Socialist Republic of Vietnam, has launched today Switzerland’s new Development Cooperation Strategy 2017-2020 with Vietnam. In alignment with Vietnam’s evolving reform needs and emerging new challenges, the strategy will focus on the area of economic development cooperation, implemented by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). It indicatively foresees commitments of CHF 90 million of ODA grants and represents a solid basis for continuing the longstanding collaboration between the two countries in the coming four year.

Event on 25 Years of SDC-Vietnam Cooperation

30.09.2016 — Local news Vietnam

Hanoi - The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) organised a workshop on 30 September 2016 to celebrate the achievements of its 25 years of collaboration with Vietnam.

Community Management Project - Closing Workshop

25.08.2016 — Local news Vietnam

Community Management Project (CMP) is a success story of SDC in Vietnam. “People know, people discuss, people implement and people supervise” is a Vietnamese government slogan to promote grassroots democracy. The government of Vietnam has recognized the rights and roles of citizens in local planning and decision-making. But do people in fact have a say in decisions that affect them? Not yet. This project aims to contribute to the implementation of local people empowerment.

SECO supports Banks in Vietnam aligning Risk Management with Capital Management to Support Sustainable Growth

18.08.2016 — Local news Vietnam

A half-day workshop discussing on implementation of the Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP) was held to support Vietnam to resolve non-performing loans in the banking system. The event was one of several activities under the IFC implemented project strengthening corporate insolvency and work-out practices in Vietnam. The Swiss Government is financing this 3.8 million dollar project through SECO with the goal to mitigate the risk of further financial crisis that are harmful for the country’s economy.

BioTrade to promote sustainable use of biodiversity based resources in Viet Nam

15.07.2016 — Local news Vietnam

Hanoi, 27 June, 2016 – In order to support trade of products derived from biodiversity in a sustainable way, Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) co-finances since 2003 the “BioTrade Facilitation Programme” (BTFP) implemented by UNCTAD (first phase 2003-2007, second phase 2008-2016). The overall objective of this programme is to ‘enhance sustainable bio-resources management, supporting BioTrade product development, value-added processing and market entry, promoting product differentiation and improving access to trade and pre-export finance, and providing a voice for BioTrade in the policy environment that affects such trade”.

Closing the Public Service Provision Improvement Program in Agriculture and Rural Development (PSARD)

16.12.2015 — Media release Vietnam

The programme “Public Service Provision Improvement Programme in Agriculture and Rural Development” (PS-ARD) had  two phases (2008-2015) with a total budget of CHF 21,400,000 funded by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)  in Vietnam. The project was implemented in the two mountainous and ethnic minority provinces -  Hoa Binh and Cao Bang - by the local provincial Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development with technical support of the Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation.

Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter holds political talks in Hanoi and opens the new Consulate general in Ho Chi Minh City

02.06.2015 — Media release Vietnam

On June 2^nd 2015 Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter met for political talks in Hanoi with the Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister in charge of economic matters, Hoàng Trung Hải, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Bình Minh. The talks focused on bilateral issues and security in Asia. The talks covered regional security matters as well as bilateral aspects and economic issues.

New Swiss ambassadors

17.12.2014 — Media release EDA
A number of staff changes have been announced for several Swiss representations abroad and at the head office of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. The changes will take place in 2015 as part of the usual transfer rotation and on the basis of appointments made by the Federal Council. The appointment of heads of missions abroad becomes effective following approval by the respective host state. The Federal Council thanks those ambassadors entering retirement for their services.

New ambassadors of Switzerland (last modification, the 02.10.2014)

02.10.2014 — Media release EDA
A number of staff changes have been announced for several Swiss representations abroad and at the head office of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. The changes will take place in 2015 as part of the usual transfer rotation and on the basis of appointments made by the Federal Council. The appointment of heads of mission becomes effective following approval by the respective host state. The Federal Council thanks those ambassadors entering retirement for their services.

Biotrade initiative to develop natural ingredient sector in Vietnam financed by SECO

21.06.2017 — Local news Vietnam

Hanoi, 20 June 2017 - The BioTrade SECO project organized the Vietnam Project Launching Ceremony of the Regional BioTrade Project South East Asia.  The new project is financed by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), a Swiss Government Agency, and implemented in Vietnam by HELVETES Vietnam, a Swiss-based, international Non-Government Organization. The total funding of the project for Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar is USD 4.9 million. Fund allocation for Vietnam component and Vietnam PMU is USD 2.7 million from 2017 to the end of 2020.

Swiss Import Promotion Program SIPPO to build export service capacity in Vietnam

02.06.2017 — Local news Vietnam

Hanoi, June 2, 2017 - the Swiss Import Promotion Program SIPPO is funded by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland (SECO) with CH 19.4 mio for four years (2017 – 2020) to boost export and create new jobs and incomes from eleven developing and transition countries. In Vietnam, the program will be implemented by Swisscontact Foundation in partnership with Helvetas Vietnam though strengthening long-term stable export structures in two sectors: technical wood and added value textile.

Swiss funded satellite technology generates big impact in rice monitoring

26.05.2017 — Local news Vietnam

Switzerland has funded pilot phase (2012-2015) and the scale up phase (2015-2017) the RIICE project in Vietnam as part of its global support to several rice producing countries. The concept of the project is to use high quality, free of charge satellite data that has been recently made available internationally for the monitoring of rice production, natural disasters (notebly floods and droughts). After the pilot phase in 2 provinces, the concept has been proved to work perfectly in providing a cost-effective way of providing accurate, unbiased and timely data. In the scale up phase, the project is implemented in 8 provinces in the Red river Delta and 2 other ones in the Mekong Delta.

MARD expreesed its willingness to continue the project and expand to cover other major rice producing provinces as well.

Kick-off workshop - Mekong Urban Flood Proofing and Drainage Project

31.03.2017 — Local news Vietnam

The Mekong delta and its important role to Vietnam’s socio-economic development is particularly vulnerable to climate change and flood-related disasters. To address this challenge, SECO has recently developed the “Mekong Urban flood proofing and drainage project” in cooperation with its implementing partner GIZ. On 30 March 2017, the implementation of this project was successfully kicked off in Can Tho in a workshop with more than 60 representatives from the Ministry of Construction of Vietnam (MOC), An Giang, Kien Giang and Ca Mau province, SECO, GIZ and other relevant stakeholders.

Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production helps improve competitiveness of Vietnam’s rice sector

21.03.2017 — Local news Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City, 3 March, 2017 – Vietnam is known as one of the world’s biggest rice producer and exporter. However, it is facing fierce competition from other countries due to fragmented value chain with low quality and high production costs. Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has successfully supported the rice sector during the last four years to apply resource efficient and cleaner production methods to address these challenges.    

Improving social dialogue, productivity and working conditions is key to Viet Nam’s integration success

24.10.2016 — Local news Vietnam

HANOI (ILO News) – The agenda of social dialogue, productivity and working conditions is becoming more important than ever as Viet Nam is entering a new era of deeper global integration.

This is the main message of a conference jointly organized by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland (SECO), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) today in Hanoi.

High Level Delegation from Switzerland pays offcial visit to the Business Registration Office in Hanoi

11.10.2016 — Local news Vietnam

During her official visit to Vietnam, State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Ms Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch, took the opportunity to visit the Business Registration Office (BRO) in Hanoi’s Cầu Giấy district. The BRO has been supported in the context of Switzerland’s economic development cooperation that works through one of its flagship program to simplification business registration processes in cooperation with Vietnam’s Agency for Business Registration (ABR). Starting a business has become much easier in Vietnam and it can be done in only 3 days while legally binding information of over half a million active enterprises is now accessible online.

Switzerland announces New Development Cooperation Strategy 2017 - 2020 with Vietnam

11.10.2016 — Local news Vietnam

The Swiss State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Ms Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen Fleisch, together with Vice Minister Nguyen The Phuong, Ministry of Planning and Investment, Socialist Republic of Vietnam, has launched today Switzerland’s new Development Cooperation Strategy 2017-2020 with Vietnam. In alignment with Vietnam’s evolving reform needs and emerging new challenges, the strategy will focus on the area of economic development cooperation, implemented by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). It indicatively foresees commitments of CHF 90 million of ODA grants and represents a solid basis for continuing the longstanding collaboration between the two countries in the coming four year.

Event on 25 Years of SDC-Vietnam Cooperation

30.09.2016 — Local news Vietnam

Hanoi - The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) organised a workshop on 30 September 2016 to celebrate the achievements of its 25 years of collaboration with Vietnam.

Community Management Project - Closing Workshop

25.08.2016 — Local news Vietnam

Community Management Project (CMP) is a success story of SDC in Vietnam. “People know, people discuss, people implement and people supervise” is a Vietnamese government slogan to promote grassroots democracy. The government of Vietnam has recognized the rights and roles of citizens in local planning and decision-making. But do people in fact have a say in decisions that affect them? Not yet. This project aims to contribute to the implementation of local people empowerment.

SECO supports Banks in Vietnam aligning Risk Management with Capital Management to Support Sustainable Growth

18.08.2016 — Local news Vietnam

A half-day workshop discussing on implementation of the Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP) was held to support Vietnam to resolve non-performing loans in the banking system. The event was one of several activities under the IFC implemented project strengthening corporate insolvency and work-out practices in Vietnam. The Swiss Government is financing this 3.8 million dollar project through SECO with the goal to mitigate the risk of further financial crisis that are harmful for the country’s economy.

BioTrade to promote sustainable use of biodiversity based resources in Viet Nam

15.07.2016 — Local news Vietnam

Hanoi, 27 June, 2016 – In order to support trade of products derived from biodiversity in a sustainable way, Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) co-finances since 2003 the “BioTrade Facilitation Programme” (BTFP) implemented by UNCTAD (first phase 2003-2007, second phase 2008-2016). The overall objective of this programme is to ‘enhance sustainable bio-resources management, supporting BioTrade product development, value-added processing and market entry, promoting product differentiation and improving access to trade and pre-export finance, and providing a voice for BioTrade in the policy environment that affects such trade”.