The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) will allocate a budget of USD 50 million to support Vietnam during the 2025-2028 period, reinforcing a long-standing partnership focused on sustainable development and innovation.
On May 29, the Swiss Embassy in Hanoi hosted an event celebrating 35 years of development cooperation with Vietnam and officially announced the 2025-2028 Cooperation Program.
Since 1991, Switzerland’s official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam has shifted from poverty alleviation to promoting sustainable economic development. Over the past 34 years, Switzerland has pledged a total of 650 million CHF (approximately USD 800 million) to Vietnam.
These efforts have helped improve Vietnam’s legal framework, increase the safety of financial services, support sustainable exports, enhance urban planning, and create a more business- and investment-friendly environment.
Trade promotion activities have supported more than 60 organizations and enterprises, encouraging over 10,000 businesses to launch innovative and sustainable production initiatives for export.
More than 2,000 startup entrepreneurs have received support, successfully raising a total of 124 million CHF in investment capital. Around 500,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have gained access to an additional USD 33 billion in funding through innovation-linked credit financing mechanisms.
The transformation of traditional industrial zones into eco-industrial parks has led to improved environmental standards, saving 850,000 cubic meters of water annually and cutting CO₂ emissions by 39,560 tons each year.
Looking ahead, the Swiss government has reaffirmed its commitment to Vietnam. SECO will provide USD 50 million in funding to support Vietnam between 2025 and 2028. Since 2013, Vietnam has been designated a priority country under SECO’s economic development cooperation program.
The upcoming cooperation program will focus on three main areas: promoting sustainable trade and innovation, strengthening sustainable public and private finance, and developing climate-resilient industry and urban areas.
Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam Thomas Gass emphasized that the 2025-2028 program demonstrates Switzerland’s strong commitment to supporting Vietnam on its path to becoming a high-income, climate-resilient country by 2045 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
He noted that the program’s priorities align with Vietnam’s development goals and will contribute meaningfully to the nation’s efforts to usher in a new era of sustainable growth.
Duy Anh
