Da Nang Promotes Cooperation in Finance, Science, and Innovation in Switzerland

The delegation worked with the Swiss Asia Chamber and the Singularity Institute. Participants in the meeting included Professor Dr. Ying Zhang, Founder and Chair of the Singularity Academy, Executive Chairwoman of Verus Care Group, and Dr. Urs Lustenberger, Chairman of SwissCham ASIA.

During the discussions, the Swiss Asia Chamber and the Singularity Institute proposed several areas of cooperation with Da Nang City, including collaboration in the development of high-tech healthcare, particularly in cancer treatment; cooperation with a local university to establish a research and development laboratory; exploration of the establishment of a mental health clinic serving middle-income clients, expatriates, and tourists in Da Nang; research into establishing a law firm operating within the Viet Nam International Financial Center in Da Nang to support enterprises and financial institutions; and cooperation with the Faculty of Law of the University of Economics, University of Da Nang, to develop training and education programs supporting the development of the International Financial Center. The partners also proposed signing Memoranda of Understanding with relevant city agencies and units to implement the above cooperation initiatives.

During the meeting, Da Nang City proposed cooperation in researching and developing the branding of Vietnamese ginseng, promoting Vietnamese ginseng products in the European market, and diversifying and improving the quality of traditional medicine products with Ngoc Linh ginseng as a core ingredient. Vice Chairman Ho Quang Buu welcomed and highly appreciated the cooperation proposals from the Swiss Asia Chamber and the Singularity Institute, and expressed interest in the Viet Nam International Financial Center in Da Nang becoming a member of SwissCham ASIA in the near future, thereby expanding connectivity with international partners and the global business community. He also directed the Department of Science and Technology, the Executive Agency of the Viet Nam International Financial Center in Da Nang, and the Office of the Da Nang People’s Committee to coordinate and provide information to Swiss partners for further study and the proposal of concrete cooperation initiatives by February 2026.

On the same day, the delegation also held a working session with the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) in Zurich. Dr. August Benz, Head of International and Digital Transformation, together with other SBA representatives, welcomed and met with the delegation.
 

The delegation held a meeting with the Swiss Banking Association in Zuric

At the meeting, representatives of the Swiss Bankers Association introduced the role, functions, and activities of the Association in representing the Swiss banking sector. Currently, the SBA has 265 member institutions and serves as the representative body of the Swiss banking industry in its engagement with the Government and Parliament, while also acting as the international representative of Switzerland’s financial center.

Speaking at the meeting, Vice Chairman Ho Quang Buu expressed his sincere appreciation for the warm reception by the Swiss Bankers Association and provided an overview of Da Nang’s socio-economic development as well as the orientation to develop the Viet Nam International Financial Center in Da Nang. He emphasized that Da Nang identifies finance and banking as one of its strategic pillars, with a focus on developing green finance, digital finance, asset management, and modern financial services in line with international standards.

During the discussions, the Da Nang delegation proposed that the Swiss Bankers Association share experiences and provide advisory support on the operational model of a modern financial center, particularly mechanisms for coordination among state regulators, industry associations, and financial institutions; experiences in formulating policies to promote green finance, green bond issuance, and carbon credit development; as well as piloting new models such as digital banking, open finance, digital payments, and fintech applications. The delegation also requested the Association’s support in connecting, promoting, and introducing Swiss financial institutions, banks, asset management companies, and fintech firms to explore cooperation, presence, and investment opportunities in Da Nang in the coming period, thereby contributing to strengthening cooperation between Da Nang City and the Swiss financial community and advancing the development of the Viet Nam International Financial Center in Da Nang in accordance with international standards.
 

The Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee, Mr. Ho Quang Buu (right), presented a commemorative gift to Dr. August Benz, representative of the leadership of the Swiss Bankers Association

Representatives of the Swiss Bankers Association noted that the legal and regulatory framework is the most critical factor for the development of a financial center, and that the development roadmap must be flexible and adaptable to fluctuations in the global economy and international financial markets. The SBA emphasized that building a financial center is a long-term process requiring thorough preparation and a strong foundation of trust from the business and investor community, while welcoming the fact that Viet Nam has shown early interest and has been gradually studying and developing the international financial center model./.