Under Resolution No. 222 passed by the National Assembly on June 27 and set to take effect from September 1, Vietnam will establish and operate international financial centers in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. The plan includes controlled pilot programs for digital assets and regulatory sandboxes. This initiative marks a bold step forward in Vietnam’s efforts to develop modern financial hubs alongside an ongoing wave of major administrative reform. It has captured major attention not only from domestic public but also from international businesses, including those from Switzerland.

On this occasion, Stefan Winzenried, founder and CEO of Swiss tech firm JANZZ.technology, shared his views with the press on Vietnam’s transformation and the expectations of foreign enterprises.

From an investor’s standpoint, Mr. Winzenried said he has long taken a keen interest in Vietnam, with a particular affinity for Ho Chi Minh City. Around 25 years ago, JANZZ.technology chose the city as its first location in Southeast Asia and opened its first overseas office outside its Zurich headquarters.

Beyond personal ties, Winzenried pointed to several strategic reasons why Ho Chi Minh City stands out as a leading choice for an international financial center: excellent connectivity to other markets in the region, a large and dynamic workforce, a relatively streamlined company registration process, and promising access to Vietnam’s fast-growing market.

He emphasized that Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s economic engine and international gateway, continues to offer expanding opportunities for tech firms like JANZZ.technology. Following recent administrative restructuring, he expressed hope that the city will further strengthen its position, cut red tape, an promote a more enabling environment for long-term investment.

In addition to Ho Chi Minh City, Winzenried sees Da Nang as a key location in the company’s growth strategy. He recalled meeting with senior Da Nang officials in Zurich in 2023, an exchange that consolidated his belief in the city’s future role in JANZZ.technology’s Southeast Asian roadmap. With Da Nang aiming to develop into a regional financial center and actively optimizing its administrative system and inter-regional linkages, he believes the city holds strong potential for both tech and financial firms.

Particularly,  Winzenried went on to say that following the merger of Da Nang with central Quang Nam province, the city could greatly expand its development space, while gaining access to more land, a broader labor workforce, and deeper industrial and port connectivity. This will lay the groundwork for a new, larger-scale growth hub with outstanding investment appeal.

He added that streamlining administrative processes and standardizing procedures would allow companies like JANZZ.technology to more easily deploy workforce-related AI digital solutions, contributing to the development of high-quality human capital in Da Nang.

Swiss firms interested in HCM City's smart urban development

Leaders of Switzerland’s Credit Suisse and Aebi Schmidt Holding (ASH) Company expressed interest in smart urban development in Ho Chi Minh City during a meeting with Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Tran Vinh Tuyen on July 8.