Foreign investors who are doing business in Vietnam are considered a part of the country’s economy, especially as the successful performance of any enterprise contributes to economic development.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the affirmation while having dialogues with more than 20 Presidents and Managers of the world’s leading finance and banking, real estate, energy, civil engineering, telecom and health groups in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 28.

The dialogue, the second of its kind between PM Dung and the world’s leading businessmen, on the sidelines of the annual World Economic Forum (WEF), conveyed the international business circle’s positive feelings towards Vietnam, a country that has successfully overcome the financial crisis.

PM Dung cited 21 billion USD in FDI in 2009 as evidence of Vietnam’s attractiveness to foreign investors despite the impact of the world financial crisis.

Additionally, international donors committed to providing a record 8 billion USD of ODA to Vietnam in the 2010 fiscal year.

Throughout numerous difficulties, the country has tried its best to accelerate administrative reform to create a more open environment for economic development, promote investment, improve the effectiveness of infrastructure projects and develop human resources and scientific technology, he said.
Vietnam has considered the global financial crisis—rather than being a challenge--an opportunity to make a drastic change in its own economic foundation, PM Dung stressed.

The PM also responded to questions relating to the country’s solutions and experiences in coping with crisis, measures to increase the economy’s competitiveness, priority sectors for development and foreign investment attraction, orientations to develop the banking sector, energy development strategy as well as the country’s administrative reform and anti-corruption measures.

On the sideline of the 2010 WEF, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met with President of Credit Suisse Paul Callelo, during which he spoke highly of the bank’s contributions to Vietnam as it has helped arranged 3 billion USD of internationally-funded capital for the Southeast Asia country since 2005.

Credit Suisse has funded Vietnam Airlines, the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industries Group and mobilised financial support for PetroVietnam, Electricity of Vietnam and Vietnam National Shipping Lines.

President Paul Callelo highly praised the efforts and effective measures Vietnam has undertaken to deal with the global financial and economic crisis.

Vietnam is a priority development destination for Credit Suisse, he affirmed, pledging that the bank is willing to help and provide new financial services in Vietnam.

Later on, under the witness of PM Dung, Credit Suisse granted a contract to set up 200 million USD in capital for Vietnam ’s Kinh Bac Urban Development Corporation./.