At the meeting, Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc discussed the development cooperation, investment and trade between Vietnam and Switzerland in the last years. In particular, the Deputy Minister highly appreciated the outcomes of the Eco-Industrial Park Projects funded by SECO, implemented by UNIDO and MPI.

On behalf of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Deputy Minister Ngoc expressed “Viet Nam hopes that Switzerland will continue to increase the scale of support for Viet Nam so that Viet Nam can achieve the following goals: (1) Transform the existing industrial parks to EIPs; (2) Development of new EIPs; (3) Implement circular economic models for projects inside and outside the industrial parks; (4) Build a database system for businesses in general and industrial parks and economic zones in particular”.

Mr. Dominique Paravicini affirmed that Viet Nam and Switzerland have had diplomatic relations for more than 50 years with development cooperation programs and projects in Viet Nam and they will be continued in the coming time. Mr. Dominique Paravicini shared, "Vietnam is one of the worlds manufacturing hubs. The industrial parks are not transformed into green and sustainable model, which shall affect the implementation of Viet Nams ambitious commitment to achieve the net zero goal by 2050”.

Ms. Le Thi Thanh Thao, Country Representative of UNIDO in Viet Nam, highly appreciated the role of industrial parks in Viet Nams economic and social development. Besides the positive results that industrial parks have achieved, the rapid industrialization process in Viet Nam has posed many environmental and social challenges. In that context, Viet Nam is gradually transforming its development models, including transforming industrial parks in a more sustainable way.

From 2015 up to now, UNIDO has been honored to accompany the Ministry of Planning and Investment in the policy development and supporting the transformation of 7 IPs to EIPs with funding from SECO, in order to promote RECP, industrial symbiosis and improve welfare for workers as well as surrounding communities.

“In Phase 2 of the project over the next 4 years, I believe that UNIDO will continue to accompany the Ministry of Planning and Investment and relevant parties to replicate the EIPs, actively participate in the countrys sustainable development strategies in terms of policy-making, technology, finance, information sharing and connection as well as close dialogues between relevant parties. Viet Nam is selected as one of the 5 countries with the highest priority in budget allocation in GEIPP, which means our efforts will have to be even greater" - Ms. Thanh Thao said.

The Memorandum of Understanding Signing Ceremony was held between the Department of Economic Zone Management, Ministry of Planning and Investment of Viet Nam and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of the Switzerland on collaborating in EIP development in Viet Nam from 2024 to 2028. The new project will be supported by SECO and jointly implemented by MPI and UNIDO under the framework of the Global Eco-Industrial Park Program (GEIPP) for 2024-2028 to upscaling EIPs to implement circular economy in Viet Nam towards the GEIPP, which promotes a sustainable development of industrial zones within the framework of Decree 35/2022/ND-CP of the Government on 28 May 2022 regulating the management of industrial zones and economic zones. The ultimate goal is to improve the economic, environmental and social performance of industries and to provide benefits for the community and the country as a whole.

MOU signing by Mr. Thomas Gass, Ambassador, Embassy of Switzerland in Vietnam and Mr. Le Thanh Quan, Director General of the Department of Economic Zones Management, Ministry of Planning and Investment.