Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha (R) and Swiss Federal Councilor for Economic Affairs, Education and Research of Switzerland Guy Parmelin (L) (Photo: VGP)

Ha made the suggestion during his talks with Swiss Federal Councilor for Economic Affairs, Education and Research of Switzerland Guy Parmelin on Monday, on the occasion of his attendance in World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos. 

He asked Parmelin to create favorable conditions for Swiss firms to operate in Vietnam in the long term, especially in areas of Switzerland’s strength and Vietnam’s demand such as finance-banking, insurance, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, agricultural product processing, renewable energy, and tourism.

The Deputy PM proposed that the Swiss side continue to coordinate with Vietnam to speed up the negotiation of free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Vietnam is willing to act as a bridge for EFTA members to reach the ASEAN market, he said.

Parmelin highly valued Vietnam’s commitments to net-zero emissions at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) and affirmed assistance for Vietnam in switching to circular economy and circular production, digital economy and digital transformation towards greener direction.

Following their talks, Deputy PM Ha and Councilor Parmelin chaired a meeting with Swiss businesses and investors.