Swiss ep 25- seco speech

Short Summary:

This speech discusses the Swiss government's investment in international cooperation, specifically focusing on private sector development and improved labor conditions in Vietnam. Key points include the "why" behind this investment (constitutional mandate, potential for good, economic growth opportunities for Swiss companies), the "what" (supporting sustainable trade, innovation, and urban governance), and the "how" (through various projects in areas like textile manufacturing digitization, sustainable finance, and startup funding). Specific technologies like IoT applications and AI are mentioned as tools for achieving sustainable growth and impact. The implications include fostering sustainable economic growth in Vietnam, improving labor conditions, and creating synergies between Swiss and Vietnamese businesses. The speaker emphasizes a demand-based approach, focusing on Vietnam's specific development needs.

Detailed Summary:

The speech can be broken down into the following sections:

1. Introduction and the "Why": The speaker begins by posing the question of why the Swiss government invests in Vietnam's development, emphasizing the distance and contrasting contexts. They highlight the potential for positive impact and the constitutional mandate to combat global poverty and promote sustainable development. The speaker also mentions the need to justify this investment (approximately 11 billion Swiss francs) to the Swiss parliament every four years. A participant's insightful comment about Vietnam's potential for growth and its attractiveness to Swiss businesses is acknowledged.

2. The "What" and "How": This section details the Swiss government's activities in Vietnam over the past 10 years, focusing on urban planning, agricultural value chains, gender equality, and private sector development. The speaker emphasizes Switzerland's strengths in innovation and entrepreneurship and its commitment to a demand-driven approach. Specific examples include work with textile and garment factories (digitization, improving labor conditions), and support for sustainable trade practices (e.g., addressing challenges related to durian exports to China).

3. Current and Future Plans (Seco's Activities): The speaker outlines Seco's (the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs) current and future plans, focusing on three pillars: sustainable trade and innovation, sustainable public and private finance, and urban governance and resilience. Specific projects are detailed, including:

Sustainable Trade and Innovation: Improving productivity of Vietnamese companies, ensuring value remains within the country, and supporting sustainability compliance for exports.
Sustainable Public and Private Finance: Working with the government on fintech regulations, mobilizing infrastructure investment (mentioning the Private Infrastructure Development Group), and promoting supply chain finance. The Seco startup fund (up to half a million Swiss francs) is also highlighted.
Urban Governance and Resilience: Focusing on digitizing urban planning, promoting cleaner industrial practices, and addressing challenges like urban sprawl and air pollution.

4. Return on Investment and Call to Action: The speaker concludes by emphasizing the positive return on investment from these projects and showcasing examples of their impact. They conclude with a call to action, inviting the audience to share ideas and potential collaborations to further enhance the impact of Swiss investment in Vietnam. The speaker notes a particular interest in exploring further synergies in the innovation space.

Notable quotes include: "it's not just potential, it's also kind of a constitutional mandate," and the speaker's personal assessment that "the return of investment has been quite great." The repeated emphasis on the demand-based approach and the search for synergies with the audience's expertise underscores the collaborative nature of the Swiss government's development strategy.