About | Viet Nam Day

SWISS - VIET
ECONOMIC FORUM
2025

The Swiss-Viet Economic Forum (SVEF) 2025 in Zurich is co-organized by the Embassy of Vietnam in Switzerland and the Swiss-Viet Economic Forum Organization. It aims to deepen bilateral and multilateral cooperation in trade, investment, innovation, and education between Switzerland, Vietnam, and international partners.

AGENDA

June 23, 2025

ABOUT SWISS - VIET ECONOMIC FORUM 2025

TRADE & INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP

TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION & DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTER

EDUCATION, TALENT & HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT

AGENDA

June 10, 2025

Pre-Forum Reception & Delegation Briefings

June 23, 2025

Main Forum Day

June 24, 2025

Thematic Workshops & Focused Exchange

Pre-Forum Reception & Private Dialogue with Vietnamese Provinces

Audience: Vietnamese delegation, invited Swiss partners, and SVEF leadership.
Location: Trust Square, 75 Bahnhofstrasse, 8001 Zürich.

08:00 – 12:00 | Private Roundtable

Overview: Closed-door coordination session for Vietnamese provinces, ministries, and Swiss institutional partners.

Download Full Agenda

08:30 – 09:00 | Guest Arrival and Networking

09:00 – 09:20 | Opening Remarks

H.E. Mr. Phung The Long, Ambassador of Vietnam to Switzerland
Dr. Philipp Rösler, Former Vice Chancellor of Germany, President of the Swiss-Viet Economic Forum (SVEF)
Mr. Nguyen Dong Trung, Deputy Director General, Department of Foreign Affairs and Cultural Diplomacy

09:20 – 10:20 | Session І – Science and Technology for Agricultural and Industrial Development

Theme: Smart Agriculture and Tech-Enabled Local Industry: From Pilot to Scalable Impact
Overview: "How can provinces with limited resources leapfrog into smart agriculture and tech-based manufacturing — and what do they need from foreign partners beyond capital?"

10:20 – 11:40 | Session ІІ – Attracting Investment in Sustainable Tourism and Renewable Energy

Theme: Green Growth at the Local Level: Who Will Build and Who Will Invest?
Overview: "What will convince serious investors that local eco-tourism and green energy projects are bankable —
not just beautiful ideas?"

Main Forum Day

Location: Aula KOL-G201, University of Zurich, Rämistrasse 71, 8006 Zürich, Switzerland.

The Main Forum Day brings together high-level government representatives, leading businesses, academic institutions, and multilateral actors to shape the next chapter of Swiss-Vietnamese cooperation. Going beyond bilateral dialogue, the Forum positions the Swiss-Vietnamese partnership as a strategic bridge for EU–ASEAN collaboration in innovation, finance, education, and sustainable growth.

08:00 – 09:00 | Registration & Networking Breakfast

Exhibition booths from Swiss and Vietnamese companies
Facilitated B2B matchmaking coordinated by SVEF and partners

09:00 – 09:50 | Opening Ceremony & Morning Keynote Addresses

Theme: Swiss-Vietnamese Comprehensive Partnership and the Strategic Role Between ASEAN, Europe and Beyond

Overview:

Insights from diplomatic and institutional leaders from both Vietnam and Switzerland will highlight the strategic importance of the bilateral relationship in today’s evolving global context. Framing discussions will explore the role of Vietnam and Switzerland as trusted partners in building innovation-driven, resilient, and inclusive economic systems—positioning the strategic relationship between Europe, Asia, and beyond.

Speakers:

H.E. Ambassador Phung The Long, Ambassador of Vietnam to Switzerland
Dr. Philipp Rösler, President of SVEF
H.E. Ambassador Thomas Gass, Ambassador of Switzerland to Vietnam
Prof. Harald Gall, Dean, Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics, UZH
Ms.Natalie Rast, Head of Bilateral Economic Affairs Asia/Oceania, SECO.
Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of the Foreign Investment Agency, Ministry of Finance

09:50 – 10:50 | Session I – Trade, Investment & Multilateral Partnerships in a Fragmented World

Theme: Turning Bilateral Agreements into Global Connectivity Models

Overview: This session explores how bilateral trade agreements and public-private partnerships can serve as models for broader regional cooperation. With shifting global supply chains and economic realignments, the discussion will highlight how Vietnam and Switzerland can co-develop sustainable investment corridors, support FTA implementation, and empower strategic industries.

Moderator: Dr. Philipp Rösler, President of SVEF

Keynote: Mr. Le Trieu Dung, Director General, Multilateral Trade Policy Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam (MOIT)
Panelists:

Ms.Natalie Rast, Head of Bilateral Economic Affairs Asia/Oceania, SECO.
Mr. Luc Schnurrenberger, Deputy Head of International Relation, Economiesuisse
Mr. Thomas Hebestreit, CEO of Royal Spirit Group Hong Kong and DBW Deutsche Bekleidungswerke Vietnam
Dr. Stefan Legge, Vice Director of University Saint Gallen

10:50 – 11:15 | Networking Coffee Break

11:00 – 11:45 | Breakout Session - Business & Legal Workshop Entering Swiss Market (Room KOL G212)

11:00 – 11:45 | Breakout Session - Business & Legal Workshop - Entering Swiss Market

11:15 – 12:30 | Session II – Vietnam as an Emerging International Financial Center

Theme: Positioning Vietnam in the Global Financial Landscape

Overview: This session focuses on Vietnam’s ambition to become a regional financial hub. Key players from Vietnamese and Swiss financial institutions will examine regulatory frameworks, fintech innovation, and opportunities for cross-border investment. It will also highlight how Swiss financial expertise can contribute to Vietnam’s financial modernization.

Moderator: Mr. Son Nguyen, CEO, Aquis Capital
Keynote Speaker: Mr. Ho Ky Minh, Standing Vice Chairman of Da Nang.
Panelists:

Mr. Le Anh Dung, Deputy Director of Payment System, State Bank of Vietnam
Mr. Anh Tuan PHUNG, Managing Partner VCI Legal
Dr. Alfred Mettler, Swiss Finance Institute (SFI)
Ms. Eva Selamlar-Leuthold, Head of Swiss Financial Innovation Desk
Ms. Mai Fujimoto, Co-founder of INTMAX
Mr. Loi Luu – Advisor and Investor, Sygnum Bank

12:30 – 13:30 | Networking Lunch

13:30 – 14:00 | Afternoon Keynote Addresses

Theme: Shaping the Future Together – From Bilateral Success to Global Impact

Overview: Senior representatives from academia, government, and organizations to reflect on how successful bilateral initiatives can be scaled into global impact. Emphasis will be placed on knowledge, capital, and talent flows between Switzerland and Vietnam, and the collaborative frameworks needed to foster stability, sustainability, and growth across sectors and regions.

Speakers:

Mr. Ivo Sieber – Vice President, SVEF
Prof. Christian Schwarzenegger – Vice President of UZH

14:00 – 15:00 | Session III – Digital Innovation & Industrial Transformation

Theme: From AI to Industry: Driving Smart Growth through Technology & Cross-Sector Innovation

Overview: With digital transformation at the heart of industrial competitiveness, this session brings together leaders from government, tech, and manufacturing sectors to discuss how AI, semiconductors, and industrial automation can drive co-innovation. The focus is on turning bilateral innovation into scalable industrial solutions.

Moderator: Mr. Stefan Brupbacher, CEO, Swissmem
Keynote Speakers:

Mr. Rolf Eckert, Business Development Manager at Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology CSEM
Ms. Sybylle Bachmann, Head of Cooperation, Swiss Cooperation Office, Embassy of Switzerland in Viet Nam

Panelists:

Mr. Stefan Brupbacher, CEO, Swissmem
Mr. Rolf Eckert, Business Development Manager at Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology CSEM
Ms. Sybylle Bachmann, Head of Cooperation, Swiss Cooperation Office, Embassy of Switzerland in Viet Nam
Mr. Dzung Tran, FPT Software Senior Vice President and FPT Software Europe Chief Executive Officer, FPT Corporation

15:00 – 15:30 | Networking Coffee Break

15:15 – 16:00 | Breakout Session - Business & Legal Workshop - Entering Vietnamese Market

15:30 – 16:30 | Session IV – Building a Future-Ready Economy: Market Expansion and Human Capital Strategies

Theme: Empowering Global Businesses and Talent to Navigate New Markets in the Digital Economy

Overview:
This session addresses how companies and institutions can successfully expand across borders while building the talent needed for the digital economy. It combines market-entry strategies with workforce development, education diplomacy, and skills mobility to ensure sustainable long-term collaboration.

Moderator: Mr. Roger Jann, Founder & CEO of Nature4growth

Keynote: Lucas Tschan, Representative of SECO Startup Fund
Panelists:

Mr. Andreas Földényi, Co-CEO and Chairman, Academia Group
Ms. Angela Di Rosa, Senior Consultant Southeast Asia, Swiss Global Enterprises SGE
Mr. Stefan Winzenried, CEO and Founder of JANZZ.technology, a Swiss HR Tech Company
Prof. Harald Gall, Dean, Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics, UZH
Mr. Huynh Cong Thang, Co-Founder - Innolab Asia

16:30 – 17:00 | Closing Ceremony & MoUs Announcements

Summary of forum outcomes, signing of institutional agreements, and closing remarks.

17:30 – 19:00 | Closing Reception Dinner

Thematic Workshops & Focused Exchange & Bridging Swiss and Vietnamese IT Ecosystems

Location: University of Zurich, Rämistrasse 71, 8006 Zürich

As part of the Swiss-Viet Economic Forum 2025's broader initiative to promote innovation and digital collaboration, this thematic workshop will spotlight 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.

10:00 – 10:30 | Guest Arrival & Check-In

10:30 – 11:00 | Opening Remarks

Philip Weights, President, Swiss Fintech Association (SFTA)
Prof. Harald Gall, Dean, Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics, University of Zurich
Ms. Chu Thanh Hang, Counselor, Embassy of Viet Nam in Switzerland
Mr. Ivo Sieber, Vice-President of Swiss-Viet Economic Forum (SVEF)

11:00 – 12:00 | Keynote Presentations

An Mai, CEO, IMT Solutions
Khanh Nguyen, Senior Product Manager, Swiss Marketplace Group
Francesco Gaetano Fazzi Legal/Regulatory Perspective, KPMG

12:00 – 12:20 | Fireside Chat with Hung Truong: "Navigating Global IT Outsourcing: Leveraging Vietnam’s Unique Strengths – Insider’s Perspective"

12:20 – 12:40 | Panel Discussion & Audience Q&A

Moderated panel: Open exchange with the keynote speakers, addressing questions from the audience and key concerns such as scalability, legal frameworks, and cultural fit in outsourcing.