Zürich (Switzerland), June 23, 2025 – Mr. Tuan Phung, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Financial Investors (VAFI) and Managing Partner of VCI Legal spoke at the Swiss – Viet Economic Forum 2025 (“SVEF”), hosted by SVEF and the Embassy of Vietnam in Switzerland.
Dr. Philipp Rösler (second from the right) currently serves as President of the Board of Directors of SWEF and is also a member of Vietjet’s Board of Directors for the 2022-2027 term. He served as Federal Minister of Health from 2009 to 2011 and Federal Minister of Economics and Technology as well as Vice-Chancellor of Germany from 2011 to 2013. Born in Vietnam, Dr. Philipp Rösler was the first cabinet Minister and Vice-Chancellor of Asian background in Germany.
During the Forum, Mr. Phung and Mr. Philipp Rösler officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), formalizing the partnership between VAFI and SVEF to foster long-term cooperation in promoting of finance, investment, and innovation in financial services between Vietnam and Switzerland. In particular the following areas:
The agreement reflects both parties’ commitment to building a strong bilateral platform for knowledge sharing, joint initiatives, and policy dialogue. This partnership is part of SVEF’s broader effort to connect institutions across sectors and geographies, further strengthening the Forum’s impact as a catalyst for strategic collaboration between SVFE and VAFI with a focus on the development of the International Financial Centers in Vietnam.
On June 27, 2025, the National Assembly of Vietnam officially passed the Resolution on the International Financial Center of Vietnam.
On the other hand, the SVEF forum aimed to enhance bilateral and multilateral collaboration in commerce, investment, innovation, and education among Switzerland, Vietnam and international partners. Held in Zurich, the event served as a platform to deepen economic cooperation, facilitate knowledge exchange, and bring together specialists, enterprises, scholars, and policymakers from both nations.
Mr. Phung shared with the audience a speech titled: “Vietnam – An Emerging International Financial Center”. His talk covered the essential policy & legal breakthroughs of the first regulation on international financial center in Vietnam which result in: (i) Legal and Structural Reforms; (ii) Operational Frameworks for Investment; and, iii) Governing Laws and Dispute Resolution Regime.Vietnam possesses all the advantageous conditions to become one of the world’s major IFCs. Vietnam’s strategy “one centre, two destinations” distinguishes it from other IFCs.
Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City are the largest and most advanced cities in Vietnam and have the potential to become economic hubs that draw substantial global financial transactions. The draft National Assembly Resolution about financial centre was just passed by the National Assembly during the 9th Session of the 15th National Assembly.
About the Forum:
The Swiss – Viet Economic Forum 2025 was held on June 10, 2025 at Trust Square and University of Zürichwith hundreds of attendees, comprising leaders from Vietnamese localities, Swiss enterprises, international organizations, and policymakers. This dialogue served as an inaugural event for the Vietnam-Switzerland Economic Forum 2025 on June 23. On June 23 – Main Forum day, the event brought together senior officials, business leaders, and academic experts from both sides. It featured four discussions on key issues such as:
– The Vietnam – Switzerland Trade, Investment & Multilateral Partnerships in a Fragmented World;
– Vietnam as an Emerging international financial centre
– Digital Transformation and Innovation; and
– Building a Future-Ready Economy: Market Expansion and Human Capital Strategies.
On the third day of the event (June 24), Thematic workshops & Bridging Swiss and Vietnamese IT Ecosystems spotlighted Vietnam’s growing role as a dynamic and competitive IT outsourcing destination. It aims to explore the evolving tech landscapes of both countries and identify synergies between Swiss fintech innovation and Vietnamese digital capacity.
