A business seminar entitled ‘Da Nang - A Future Financial Centre’ took place in Geneva, Switzerland, on Wednesday.

Da Nang People's Committee Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh speaking at the seminar

The event was jointly organised by the delegation of Da Nang’s officials, the Swiss-Vietnamese Business Gateway (SVBG), and the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services (CCIG).

In attendance at the seminar were Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Le Thi Tuyet Mai, Head of the Permanent Mission of Viet Nam to the United Nations (UN), WTO and other international organisations in Geneva; Mr. Vincent Subilia, the Director of CCIG; and representatives of organisations and businesses operating in the fields of international trade, banking, asset management, high technology, law and investment consulting in Geneva.

In his speech delivered at the event, Da Nang People’s Committee Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh briefed attendees on the city’s socio-economic development, its position and role in the economic map of Viet Nam and the region, and its development vision and goals during the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050.

He also provided the participants with specific information about the Da Nang International Financial Centre project, and the Da Nang Hi-Tech Park.

The seminar in progress

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai expressed her pleasure to act as a bridge to boost cooperation between Vietnamese and Swiss agencies and localities over the past time.

She added Da Nang was oriented to be a national innovation centre and boasted enough foundation and advantages in term of infrastructure to become a financial technology (Fintech) centre in the future.

She affirmed that with its experience in building a global financial centre brand, Geneva will make every effort to help Da Nang determine its position in the global financial markets in the near future.

During the seminar, the delegates discussed the legal framework to form an international financial centre, and at the same time exchanged interest in seeking investment opportunities in Da Nang, and Viet Nam as a whole, especially in the fields of finance, banking, Fintech, innovation, and e-commerce.

They recommended that the Da Nang government make drastic improvements in the investment environment and legal support for foreign businesses, meeting the needs of many Swiss businesses.

The delegates at the seminar

Mr. Vincent Subilia, Director of CCIG, gave assessment and recommendations to Da Nang in the orientation of building a financial centre in the future.

In particular, he emphasised the need for a transparent and flexible legal framework, so that when the financial centre comes into operation, it will ensure investors' compliance with the law as well as the safety of financial transactions in accordance with international treaties and international trade practices.

Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh highly appreciated and thanked the comments and constructive ideas made by the delegates, thereby expressing his desire to welcome Swiss businesses to seek investment and business opportunities in the city.

The city government is also committed to creating favourable conditions for organisations and businesses in Switzerland in general and in Geneva in particular to carry out investment and business projects in Da Nang.

Moreover, the city also hoped that the participating agencies will share information, and widely promote its investment and business environment and development potential to the business community in Geneva in particular and Switzerland in general.

Reporting by GIA MINH - Translating by M.DUNG