(Haiphong.gov.vn) - On the morning of October 20, Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Hoang Minh Cuong chaired a reception and working session with the Delegation of the Swiss - Vietnam Economic Forum (SVEF) and Swiss enterprises led by Mr. Ivo Sieber, Vice Chairman of SVEF and former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Switzerland to Vietnam. Attending the working session were representatives of the Embassy of Switzerland in Vietnam, the Swiss-Asian Chamber of Commerce, the SIPPO organization, along with leaders of municipal departments, agencies, and the Hai Phong Economic Zone Authority.
The delegation's working visit took place at a particularly meaningful time as the two countries are celebrating the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Switzerland, while immediately following the historic milestone of the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) having been officially signed.
Speaking at the working session, Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Hoang Minh Cuong emphasized that Hai Phong currently maintains its position as the leading industrial, seaport, and logistics center in the North, sustaining double-digit economic growth for 11 consecutive years, with the third-largest economic scale nationwide. Cumulatively, the city has attracted over USD 53.2 billion in foreign direct investment from 41 countries and territories.
Elaborating further on the long-term development strategy of Hai Phong City, the Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee affirmed that the city's consistent orientation is to build a modern, smart, and sustainable industrial, seaport, and logistics ecosystem, resolutely prioritizing high-quality, high-tech new-generation FDI inflows. The city is maximizing advantages from the Lach Huyen international gateway port system, a large-scale industrial park chain, and the pilot mechanism for the Free Trade Zone newly promulgated by the National Assembly to create new breakthrough momentum. Meanwhile, Swiss enterprises possess extensive experience and leading strengths in precision engineering, microelectronics technology, clean energy, and finance - sectors that Hai Phong accords top priority in investment attraction. Therefore, the potential for cooperation between the two sides remains immense, particularly across six key pillars: seaports, logistics services, manufacturing and processing industries, energy, finance, and the green economy. The Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee expressed the desire for both sides to soon agree on liaison focal points in order to promptly concretize survey programs into practical investment projects.
On the delegation's side, Mr. Ivo Sieber along with representatives of Swiss organizations and enterprises expressed their deep impression with the robust transformation of transport infrastructure and the investment and business environment in the Port City. With bilateral trade turnover between Vietnam and the EFTA bloc reaching approximately USD 5.5 billion per year, the delegation expressed confidence that the newly signed Free Trade Agreement would serve as a powerful lever driving a new investment wave.
At the working session, leadership of Norsk Solar Company presented implementation steps regarding the green economy development cooperation agreement signed with Hai Phong in 2023, while highly appreciating the breakthrough revisions in Vietnam's Power Development Plan VIII that bolster confidence among international energy investors. Sharing the same assessment, the representative of the Swiss-Asian Chamber of Commerce affirmed that Hai Phong's development model for industrial parks, economic zones, and the orientation of its free trade zone serve as an exemplary model in the region, committing that the Chamber will strengthen its bridging role to support Swiss small and medium-sized enterprises in expanding their presence in the city…
As part of the working program, the Swiss business delegation will conduct direct field surveys at the Lach Huyen international deep-water port area and Trang Due Industrial Park to explore supply chain linkage opportunities and finalize investment plans for high-tech projects in the near future./.
Nguyen Hanh
Procedures
