Vinh Long (VNA) – A delegation from the Swiss–Viet Economic Forum (SVEF) led by its Secretary‑General Rachel Nguyen Isenschmid on July 17 met with authorities of Vinh Long province to discuss strategic collaboration opportunities with Swiss and international partners.
Standing Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Dang Van Chinh, highlighted Vinh Long as the Mekong Delta’s strategic centre following the recent administrative merger, with over 6,200 sq.m of land and a 130 km coastline.
The province focuses on high-tech agriculture, agro-processing, renewable energy, and eco‑cultural tourism, alongside digital transformation, innovation, and sustainable growth. It also emphasised improving the investment environment and enhancing public capital efficiency.
Vinh Long boasts numerous higher-education institutions and vocational training centres aimed at cultivating a skilled workforce—key to developing knowledge-based, high-tech industries and services.
Chinh expressed hope that discussions will pave the way for Swiss partners to recognise the province’s potential and noted that Vinh Long is committed to creating the most favourable conditions for partners to implement programmes and projects in the province, contributing to the sustainable development of both sides.
Rachel Nguyen Isenschmid revealed that following the success of the Swiss–Vietnam Economic Forum in Zurich in June 2025, SVEF will co‑host the 2025 edition in the central coastal city of Da Nang in November. The two-day event will offer a platform for Vinh Long to showcase its potential to international partners.
SVEF observers recognised Vinh Long as a model for green economic development, innovation, and international cooperation in areas such as agricultural value chains, processing technology, export standardisation, vocational training, and advanced technologies in health care, and renewable energy. They also recommended leveraging international digital and environmental initiatives.
Roger Leitner, Chairman and CEO of the Swiss Asian Chamber of Commerce, noted that Vietnamese products are well‑regarded by foreign consumers. The chamber aims to bridge Vietnamese agricultural products to the Swiss market.
According to the provincial Department of Finance, the province is home to 188 active foreign direct investment (FDI) projects from 24 countries, with a total registered capital of 5.74 billion USD, but none yet from Switzerland.
Recently, Swiss business delegations have visited the province, and Vinh Long has conducted investment promotion missions to Switzerland. In June 2025, Vinh Long signed three memoranda of understanding with Swiss and European entities, namely the Vietnamese Young Business Association in Europe (VYBE), the Vietnam Business Association in Belgium (VBAB), and Swiss solar energy firm Lumiton Solar.
In the first half of 2025, Vinh Long’s exports to Switzerland fetched over 876,000 USD, primarily ceramics, leather footwear, textiles, seafood, and coconut products./.
