As a continuation of the diplomatic relations between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Swiss Confederation established in 1971, Swiss Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Vietnam started in 1992. Up to 2016, Switzerland committed CHF 467 m (USD 488m) to Vietnam’s socio-economic development and reform agenda, implemented by two Governmental development agencies with complementary instruments and programs: SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation) and SECO (Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs).
Alongside Vietnam’s fast socio-economic development, its significant results achieved under the Millennium Development Goals and reaching the middle income country status, Switzerland continues to adjust its ODA focus. It will phase out SDC’s bilateral poverty reduction and governance program, while continuing SECO’s substantial engagement in the area of economic development cooperation.
Through its new development cooperation strategy 2017-2020, which is based on lessons learnt from previous cooperation and has been consulted with MPI and additional partners from the private sector, academia and civil society, SECO will provide support in three main areas:
Foster effective economic policies and institutions
Create a competitive and resource efficient private sector
Enable sustainable and climate resilient urban development
Core fields of work are related to public financial management, financial sector strengthening, access to finance for SME, promotion of environmental and social sustainability standards, resource efficient and clean production, framework conditions for sustainable trade, efficient business enabling environment, integrated urban planning as well as access to reliable public services.
“Switzerland will continue to support your country to attain inclusive and sustainable growth that improves the life of the citizens. We expect that our longstanding collaboration with Vietnam will continue to work successfully on the socioeconomic reform agenda ahead. Switzerland remains a reliable and committed donor partner in support Vietnam in its further development” said Swiss State Secretary Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen Fleisch in the official launching event with MPI Vice Minister Nguyen The Phuong.
The Vice Minister also shared at the event that “All the ODA projects funded by Switzerland have positive impact to Vietnamese agencies, institutions, and local people, contributing to poverty reduction and socio-economic development of Vietnam”.
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Miroslav Delaporte
Country Director
Swiss Cooperation Office for Vietnam
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO
Embassy of Switzerland
Hanoi Central Office Building, 16th Floor
44B Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hanoi, Vietnam
G.P.O Box 42
Phone: +84 4 3934 66 27; Fax: +84 4 3934 66 33
miroslav.delaporte@eda.admin.ch
www.eda.admin.ch/vietnam
