Delegates attend the event. — VNA/VNS Photos Anh Hiển

ZURICH, Switzerland — Switzerland and Việt Nam signalled a new phase in their economic partnership at the Swiss-Viet Economic Forum (SVEF) 2026, as leaders from both countries highlighted growing cooperation and renewed optimism over the conclusion of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement.

The forum, held at the University of Zurich on June 10, brought together senior government officials, diplomats, business leaders and academics to mark 55 years of diplomatic relations and explore new opportunities for collaboration in trade, finance, innovation and sustainable development.

Opening: 55 years and looking forward

Opening the forum, Việt Nam's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Thị Thu Hằng, speaking via video link from Hà Nội, highlighted the strong foundations of bilateral relations while stressing that significant untapped potential remains.

She noted that Swiss investment in Việt Nam has reached US$2.4 billion, while two-way trade exceeded US$1 billion in 2025. However, she said these figures fall short of the relationship's full potential and encouraged Swiss businesses to expand cooperation in green transition, digital transformation, renewable energy and smart infrastructure.

Dr Philipp Rösler, President of SVEF, described current global trade turbulence as a call for action rather than pessimism, arguing that Switzerland and Việt Nam share a strong entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to open markets.

Dr Philipp Rösler delivers the opening remarks at SVEF 2026.

Making her first public appearance in Switzerland after arriving in the country just days earlier, Ambassador Châu Mai Anh urged participants to focus on building concrete partnerships rather than limiting themselves to discussions.

"The future relationship between Việt Nam and Switzerland will not be defined solely by trade volumes or investment figures. It will be defined by our ability to innovate together, invest together, educate future generations together, and build resilient and sustainable economies together," she said.

Swiss Ambassador to Việt Nam Thomas Gass highlighted the role of Swiss companies that have become long-term partners in Việt Nam's development and encouraged participants to think beyond the free trade agreement itself.

"As we look forward to the conclusion of the EFTA-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement, I am convinced that the best chapter of our partnership still lies ahead," he said.

Swiss Ambassador to Việt Nam Thomas Gass speaks at the event.

Harald Gall, Dean of the Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics at the University of Zurich, highlighted the university's European-Asia Business Management programme and a newly signed cooperation agreement with the Banking University of Việt Nam. He also underscored the importance of responsible artificial intelligence as a shared research priority.

Trade, finance and digital trust

The forum's morning discussions focused on the policy foundations needed to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

A high-level dialogue on free trade, market access and economic resilience reviewed progress in the EFTA-Việt Nam FTA negotiations, lessons from other Swiss trade agreements in Asia, regional economic integration and ways to enhance the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Participants also explored opportunities to strengthen capital market connectivity and support the development of international financial centres in HCM City and Đà Nẵng. Discussions centred on cross-border investment flows, financial innovation and mechanisms to deepen cooperation between the two countries' financial sectors.

Innovation and digital trust emerged as another major theme. Speakers examined artificial intelligence governance, digital trust certification, data governance and regulatory sandbox cooperation, with participants proposing the establishment of a Swiss-Việt Nam Digital Trust Dialogue.

Running alongside these discussions, the Việt Nam-Switzerland Business and Legal Workshop provided businesses with practical guidance on market entry, investment procedures and regulatory frameworks in both countries.

The diplomatic highlight: State Secretary Budliger Artieda

One of the most closely watched moments of the forum came with the address by Helene Budliger Artieda, State Secretary for Economic Affairs at Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

Drawing on her visit to Việt Nam earlier this year, she described the dynamism and optimism she encountered across Vietnamese society as remarkable and expressed confidence in the country's long-term economic prospects.

On the EFTA-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement, she delivered the clearest signal yet that negotiations are approaching completion.

According to Budliger Artieda, Việt Nam has been invited as a special guest to the EFTA ministerial summit in Iceland, reflecting the hope on both sides that a final agreement can be announced in the near future.

"We really want to put a lot of energy into this amazing relationship. And who knows, maybe the next Forum will be in Việt Nam," she said.

In remarks later in the day, Ambassador Mai Phan Dũng, Permanent Representative of Việt Nam to the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and other international organisations in Geneva, highlighted the country's strong economic performance, including GDP growth of 8.02 per cent, total trade turnover of US$930 billion and foreign direct investment reaching a five-year high.

He argued that these achievements should be viewed as a foundation for future growth rather than a limit to the country's ambitions.

Ivo Sieber, Vice President of SVEF, challenged participants to measure the forum's success by the partnerships and projects that emerge from it, while Christian Schwarzenegger, Vice President of the University of Zurich, stressed the importance of ethical judgement and responsible decision-making in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.

Building the foundations for the next decade

The afternoon sessions focused on the long-term drivers of competitiveness and economic resilience.

Discussions on industrial transformation examined smart manufacturing, Industry 4.0 technologies, energy security and strategic industrial partnerships between Europe and Asia. Participants highlighted the need for resilient supply chains and closer cooperation between businesses, research institutions and policymakers.

Another session explored education, talent development and innovation ecosystems, focusing on how both countries can cultivate the skilled workforce required for digital transformation, AI-driven growth and sustainable development.

The forum concluded with a strategic dialogue titled "From Vision to Action: Co-Designing the Next Decade", bringing together SVEF leaders and the ambassadors of both countries to translate the day's discussions into practical priorities for future cooperation.

Participants agreed that stronger links between governments, businesses, universities and innovation ecosystems will be essential to unlocking the full potential of Switzerland-Việt Nam relations.

SVEF 2026 was co-organised by the Swiss-Viet Economic Forum and the Embassy of Việt Nam in Switzerland, with the University of Zurich serving as co-host. The next edition of the forum is scheduled to take place in Hà Nội in October 2026. VNS