Switzerland offers Vietnam nearly 80 million USD for business climate improvement
The Swiss Government will provide 70 million CHF (nearly 80 million USD) to help Vietnam improve its business climate and boost its private sector’s competitiveness, according to a cooperation programme between the two countries for 2021 – 2024, which was announced at a virtual ceremony on August 6.
Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung (R) and Swiss Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis at the event (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Swiss Government will provide 70 million CHF (nearly 80 million USD) to help Vietnam improve its business climate and boost its private sector’s competitiveness, according to a cooperation programme between the two countries for 2021 – 2024, which was announced at a virtual ceremony on August 6.
The ceremony was attended by Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung and visiting Swiss Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis. In the past year, the Ministry of Planning and Investment worked with the Swiss Cooperation Office in Vietnam (SECO) to build the programme.
At the event, Dung and Cassis agreed upon a number of key principles for cooperation including associating economic development with environmental protection and other social matters, building a healthy financial management capacity, and planning urban areas that are friendly to businesses and people, among others.
The sides also agreed to mobilise Swiss resources serving a project on supporting businesses step up digital transformation in the bilateral or trilateral forms.
They said they will promote trade and investment cooperation activities, attracting more top Swiss firms to invest in Vietnam, particularly in sectors with high proportion of technology. As a result, related training and technological transfer will take place and an innovation ecosystem will be formed to turn Vietnam into a developing nation with a modern industry and an upper middle income in 2030.
Switzerland has offered official development assistance (ODA), mostly non-refundable aid, to Vietnam since 1992. As of 2020, Switzerland’s fund for Vietnam amounted to nearly 500 million CHF, helping the country to eliminate poverty./.
Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan hosted a reception on August 5 for Vice President and Foreign Minister of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis, who is on an official visit to Vietnam on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Switzerland diplomatic ties.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son proposed Switzerland continue to assist Vietnam in getting access to COVID-19 vaccine supplies, treatment medicines and necessary medical equipment during his talks with Swiss Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis in Hanoi on August 5.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received visiting Swiss Vice President and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis in Hanoi on August 5, during which he thanked the Swiss Government for the timely and valuable help when Vietnam is coping with a resurgence of COVID-19.
A ceremony was held in Hanoi on August 5 evening to celebrate Switzerland's 730th National Day (1291-2021) and the 50th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Switzerland diplomatic relations (1971-2021) with the attendance of Swiss Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis.
Vietnamese Consul General in Fukuoka Vu Chi Mai highlighted the growing demand for Vietnamese workers in Kyushu, especially in Fukuoka, Oita, and Saga prefectures. Currently, the region employs about 35,000 Vietnamese manual workers and over 5,000 IT engineers.
In Vietnam’s case, she said, President Ho Chi Minh demonstrated his strategic vision by founding the revolutionary press a century ago. The late leader understood the press's role not only as a means to reflect the country’s realities but also as a powerful tool to strengthen national unity and inspire the resistance wars and national construction process.
In recent interviews granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s reporters in Mexico, prominent figures reflected on the press’s legacy and its global influence.
VietnamPlus e-newspaper of the VNA clinched an A prize in the “Outstanding Press Product” category for its immersive 3D multimedia project, “Epic of Reunification,” a groundbreaking blend of storytelling and technology. The VNA won another A prize for its eye-catching exhibition booth.
Today, the press for foreign service has evolved into a distinct, irreplaceable force, bridging Vietnam with the world and portraying a nation that is stable, peace-loving, and fully integrated into the international community.
At a review conference held on June 21, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh praised the province’s scientific, coordinated, and flexible approach. He noted that the early completion reflects the strong commitment of local authorities, the business community, philanthropists, and residents in improving housing conditions for disadvantaged groups.
The VNA delegation, led by General Director Vu Viet Trang, actively participated in the event, engaging in both professional and diplomatic activities.
In the context where AI dominates and produces vast volumes of content, the only sustainable path forward for journalism is to focus on high-quality content and core values. Journalism must redefine its mission - not to report the fastest, but to provide the most profound and trustworthy value.
Granma and the VNA have great potential for cooperation, especially in sharing content regularly, so that VNA products are published on Granma platforms and vice versa, thereby helping Cuban and Vietnamese people access true information and gain a deep understanding of each other's country and people.
During his stay in China’s Guangzhou city from 1924 to 1927 to prepare for the establishment of a Communist Party to lead Vietnam’s revolution, President Ho Chi Minh founded “Thanh nien” newspaper and released its first issue on June 21, 1925.
Vietnam and Cambodia are hoped to strengthen their robust collaboration across various sectors, particularly in resolving remaining border issues to transform the border area into a zone of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development.
The strategic product, managed and operated by the Vietnam News Agency Digital Media Centre (VNA Media), is an official channel for popularising the Party and State’s information and documents as well as delivering mainstream and trustworthy news to both domestic and international audiences through various kinds of multimedia formats.
Since President Ho Chi Minh founded Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has become the voice of the people. During the resistance war against the colonialists, journalists took great personal risks to inspire patriotism and the will of rising up against foreign invaders.
The total investment exceeded 319 billion VND (12.2 million USD), including over 261 billion VND from the state budget and 57.5 billion VND mobilised from businesses, organisations, and individuals.
The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang is intensifying efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as part of the country’s goal of having the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning lifted.
Throughout its 80-year history, the VNA has remained at the forefront of information dissemination. It has consistently delivered timely, accurate, and objective reports on both domestic and international events, serving the Party’s leadership, the State’s management, and the public’s demand for official news.
With strong support from local authorities, businesses, organisations, and residents, the province has successfully built or repaired 10,707 homes for disadvantaged households, including war veterans, families of martyrs, ethnic minority people, and low-income residents.
Throughout its resistance against colonialists and imperialists, Vietnam developed a revolutionary press that has served as a benchmark for just and legitimate causes worldwide.
Founded in 1842, the Vienna Philharmonic is regarded as a cultural ambassador of Austria, with prestigious conductors like Mahler and Karajan who shape its legacy. Its New Year’s Concert, broadcast to over 90 countries annually, stands as a global symbol of classical music excellence.
Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung (R) and Swiss Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis at the event (Photo: VNA) 
