The programme is a technical cooperation initiative aimed at strengthening trade capacity and supporting Vietnamese enterprises in pursuing sustainable exports. The conference will assess results after five years of implementation, acknowledge contributions from relevant agencies, organisations, experts and the business community, and outline next steps in cooperation between Vietnam and Switzerland.

After five years of implementation in Vietnam, the SwissTrade programme has recorded notable outcomes across all three components: improving the trade policy framework; strengthening public-private dialogue mechanisms in policymaking; and building capacity for the export promotion ecosystem.

Despite various challenges during implementation, particularly the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and differences in regulations and financial management mechanisms, project partners worked closely and adapted flexibly to ensure both progress and quality.

The programme made an important contribution to the development of Vietnam’s Import-Export Strategy to 2030, promoted public-private dialogue, enhanced transparency and effectiveness in trade policymaking, and supported business support organisations (BSOs) in strengthening their capacity to assist small and medium-sized enterprises in accessing market information, meeting international standards and expanding their operations.

The results achieved have helped improve the trade policy environment, boost exports and enhance the competitiveness of Vietnamese enterprises amid global economic uncertainties. Key lessons drawn from the programme will provide a solid foundation for future cooperation initiatives, including evidence-based policymaking using analytical tools and data, more effective public–private dialogue, and a stronger focus on innovation and digital transformation.

The implementation results of the SwissTrade programme mark an important milestone in Vietnam–Switzerland cooperation in the trade sector. These outcomes will continue to be built upon to support the goal of enhancing national competitiveness and helping Vietnamese businesses expand into international markets in the period ahead.

Vietnam, Switzerland explore potential of locality-to-locality cooperation

The Swiss-Vietnamese Economic Forum (SVEF) and the Embassy of Vietnam in Switzerland has organised a dialogue between Vietnamese provinces and Swiss partners to explore the potential for cooperation between Vietnamese and Swiss localities.