Switzerland supports Vietnam to develop eco-industrial parks

Switzerland supports Vietnam to develop eco-industrial park

Yesterday afternoon (July 11, 2019), at the headquarters of the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), Minister Nguyen Chi Dung had a meeting with Swiss Federal Councillor, Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research Guy Parmelin and the visiting Swiss delegation.

Minister Dung highlighted the developing relationship between Vietnam and Switzerland, and expressed his appreciation for the non-refundable aid from Switzerland to Vietnam over the last years, supporting Vietnam to overcome challenges in socio-economic development.

The MPI highlighted the assistance of the Swiss government via the three projects of improving institutions on business registration, foreign investment, and developing eco-industrial parks, in addition to sharing knowledge and experience.

The minister hoped to continue receiving support from the Swiss government to develop the private sector, formulate the Law on Public-Private Partnership (PPP), and building ten-year socio-economic development strategy (2021-2030) and five-year socio-economic development plan (2021-2025).

Especially, he proposed that the two countries’ governments carry out measures to raise two-way trade turnover, particularly through the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) that Vietnam has just signed with the EU. Minister Dung emphasised that Vietnam is an attractive destination for foreign investors, and there remains space to develop co-operation and investment between the two countries.

In the time coming, Vietnam will implement two breakthroughs in science-technology and innovation as well as in promoting the country’s culture and people, in addition to the three previous areas of focus (institutions, human resources, and infrastructure).

Swiss Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin highlighted the relationship between Vietnam and Switzerland, and the improvement of Vietnam's business climate, particularly in the reforms for administrative procedures and business registration. He also confirmed that the co-operation and investment between the two countries would be improved thanks to the recently signed EVFTA and EVIPA.

Switzerland will support Vietnam in developing eco-industrial park

Also at the meeting, the Department for Economic Zones Management under the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research have signed a co-operation deal on eco-industrial park (EIP) development in Vietnam.

Under the agreement, the two sides will continue to develop industrial activities in Vietnam in a sustainable and inclusive manner.

They spoke highly of the results of the project on the implementation of the EIP initiative for sustainable industrial zones in Vietnam, which was sponsored by the Global Environment Facility and the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research.

The first phase of the project was carried out by the MPI and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in 2014-2019 with $4.55 million of non-refundable aid from the the Swiss State Secretatiat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and has just ended on last June, contributing to building a legal basis for EIP and turning normal industrial zones into EIZs.

The two sides will join hands to build the Global Eco-Industrial Parks Programme (GEIPP) – Vietnam, aiming to bolster the sustainable development of industrial parks within the framework of the government’s Decree No.82/2018/ND-CP, with support of the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research in the 2019-2023 period.

The ultimate goal of the second phase of the project, which enjoys $1.7 million in funding from the SECO is to improve the economic, environmental, and social performance of industries and to provide benefits for the community and the country as a whole.