Ambassador Le Linh Lan speaks at SVBG debut ceremony (Photo: VNA) Geneva (VNA)- The non-profit Swiss-Vietnamese Business Gateway (SVBG) decided at a meeting on May 15 to establish a representative boardcomprising those working in various fields in Vietnam, to promote bilateral trade,cultural, and educational ties.
Theboard’s chief representative will take charge of developing ties with domestic andforeign enterprises, the deputy chief representative will be responsible for fosteringbonds with businesspeople and intellectuals with close ties to the two nations,and two members will hold events and external affairs in Vietnam.
LuongVan My Thien, a Vietnamese-Swiss who has worked for Nestlé for nearly 30 years andhelped bring the corporation to Vietnam in the early 1990s, takes on the role ofthe SVBG’s Honorary Chairman and Chief Advisor.
TheSVBG also discussed its development strategy at the meeting, adopted an internalcode of conduct, and upheld the principles of information confidentiality, intellectualproperty, the responsible use of social media, and the management of conflicts ofinterest.
Atthe SVBG debut ceremony in late February, Vietnamese Ambassador to Switzerland LeLinh Lan spoke highly of its establishment at a time when the two countries arecelebrating the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties. She stressedthat it is the first association established by Vietnamese in Switzerland to boostbilateral trade.
Theambassador added that the Vietnamese Embassy and Trade Office in Switzerland supportthe SVBG’s activities, therefore making a practical contribution to ties betweenthe two countries’ small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Foundedby journalist Nguyen Thi Thuc (pseudonym Thuc Minh), former chief of the Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper’sSingapore bureau, and two Vietnamese-Swiss businesspeople in Lausanne, the SVBG focuseson updating enterprises from both countries on economic potential and opportunitiesvia seminars, forums, and bulletins, providing guidance and support, facilitatingtechnological transfer, introducing experts, skilled workers, and outsourcing services,and holding socio-cultural activities to support business activities.
Switzerlandis now Vietnam’s sixth-largest European investor, with total capital of around 2billion USD, primarily in manufacturing and processing and electricity. Meanwhile,Vietnam is Switzerland’s fourth-largest ASEAN trade partner, with two-way tradetopping 3.6 billion USD in 2019. Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association,comprising Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, have been officiallynegotiating a free trade agreement since 2012./.
