History of development cooperation in Vietnam
Switzerland began its Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Vietnam in 1991 and has contributed significantly to the country's reform and transformation process. Initially, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) focused on poverty reduction, capacity building and local governance reforms, which were crucial to address the high poverty rates of the time. SDC's participatory approaches had a major impact on local governance and livelihoods, facilitating environmental protection and local institutional reforms. As Vietnam's needs evolved, SDC extended its support to central government initiatives, particularly in public administration and forestry. This shift reflected a growing emphasis on public accountability and sustainable development.
From 2013, SECO took the lead in Swiss bilateral development cooperation with Vietnam, focusing on sustainable economic growth. As a result, Swiss ODA has shifted more towards private sector competitiveness and resource efficiency, while also promoting climate-resilient urban development. In more recent years, SECO has made it a priority to strengthen the competitiveness of the private sector, in line with Vietnam's development agenda, which recognizes the private sector as a key driver of growth. Overall, Switzerland's cooperation with Vietnam has evolved from an initial focus on poverty reduction to focusing on sustainable economic development in an increasingly complex global landscape.
Past Achievements
The following are some highlights from the Cooperation Programme 2021–2024:
- Enhancements to the legal and regulatory framework strengthened the financial sector, boosted sustainable exports, improved urban planning, and created a better business and investment climate.
- Trade promotion activities supported over 60 Business Support Organizations, enabling more than 10,000 exporting enterprises to innovate and make their products more sustainable.
- Assistance provided to 2,018 Vietnamese entrepreneurs helped them raise CHF 124 million in capital.
- Approximately 500’000 SMEs have gained access to an additional USD 33 billion through innovative supply chain financing mechanisms.
- Transforming industrial parks into Eco-Industrial Parks improved environmental standards, saving 850,000 m³ of water annually and reducing emissions by 39,560 tons of CO2 eq per year.
- Urban flooding risks in Can Tho, home to 443,000 residents and key businesses, were addressed, driving economic development in the city.
- The impact of Switzerland's development cooperation can be demonstrated by a number of success stories can be found on the websites linked below.
