Efforts to Attract International Financial Markets

The Da Nang delegation takes a commemorative photo with the Embassy of Viet Nam in Switzerland. (Photo: DCT)

Proactively Attracting Global Resources

In its development strategy, Da Nang identifies finance and technology as two strategic pillars to transform the city into Viet Nam’s centre of knowledge economy, innovation and international integration.

To realise this vision, the city considers economic diplomacy as a core engine—playing a guiding role in expanding international cooperation and attracting strategic resources. This orientation has also been formalised in the city’s external affairs plan for 2025–2030, with the goal of deepening integration and effectively mobilising global resources for socio-economic development.

In early November, the Switzerland–Viet Nam Economic Forum was held for the first time in Da Nang. The event became a major economic diplomacy milestone, opening new cooperation opportunities in high technology and finance, and reinforcing Da Nang’s position in the global network of leading innovation hubs.

During the forum, the Da Nang People’s Committee signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Switzerland–Viet Nam Economic Forum (SVEF), creating a comprehensive cooperation framework across strategic areas such as investment promotion for the free-trade zone, the international financial centre, logistics, startup innovation and tourism.

This marks a concrete step by the city in leveraging cooperation opportunities with Switzerland—a country with world-leading strengths in finance, technology and innovation.

Speaking at the forum, SVEF Chairman Philipp Rösler praised Da Nang as a dynamic city with strategic vision.

“We are proud to accompany Da Nang in developing a modern and sustainable international financial centre, contributing to the deepening of Viet Nam–Switzerland relations,” Mr. Rösler said.
 

The first Switzerland – Viet Nam Economic Forum in Da Nang opens new cooperation opportunities in finance and high technology. (Photo: T. Phuong)
 

Building on the momentum of the 2025 Switzerland–Viet Nam Economic Forum, Da Nang continued implementing a series of economic diplomacy activities in Switzerland to broaden cooperation, mobilise resources and access international expertise in finance and technology.

On 10 November, a city delegation led by Deputy Party Secretary Ngo Xuan Thang met with the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) to discuss technical assistance and financing for sustainable development and infrastructure projects. This represents a strategic step to ensure sustainability and international-standard quality for Da Nang’s major projects.

The delegation also met with Michele Foletti, Mayor of Lugano—a city renowned as Switzerland’s innovation hub, particularly in blockchain and the digital economy. Lugano’s experience in developing a digital city provides valuable insights for Da Nang as it perfects its governance model and pioneering legal framework for FinTech, supporting the establishment of Viet Nam’s International Financial Centre in Da Nang.

International Cooperation to Build the Financial Centre

At the same time, the city enhanced its engagement with financial and technology partners through the seminar “Da Nang – A New Destination for FinTech and Green Finance” held in Zurich. The event attracted around 20 representatives from major corporations, investment funds and FinTech companies such as the Swiss FinTech Association, NayaOne Limited, Tether and Tenity, etc.
 

The 2025 Switzerland–Viet Nam Economic Forum opens investment opportunities in finance for Da Nang. In the photo: Vice Chairman Ho Quang Buu (centre) with delegates at the forum. (Photo: T. Phuong)

Da Nang received extensive technical advice on operational models for an international financial centre—spanning legal frameworks, intellectual property, and export controls. These are essential pillars for creating a safe and transparent investment environment aligned with European standards.

Speaking at the seminar, Deputy Party Secretary Ngo Xuan Thang emphasized that the support of international experts and businesses reflects strong confidence in Da Nang’s development aspirations. He affirmed the city’s commitment to building an international financial centre based on three pillars: green finance, FinTech and digital assets, and trade finance.

He added that Da Nang aims to become a “living laboratory” for new financial models. The city pledges to remain open to cooperation and to create a transparent, stable and favourable investment environment for both domestic and foreign enterprises.

From Switzerland, the delegation continued its mission in Vienna, Austria, where the seminar “Da Nang: A Rising Centre for Finance and Technology in Viet Nam” was held. Austrian businesses expressed strong impressions of Da Nang’s potential and development direction, while offering suggestions on investment incentives, energy supply, infrastructure and transport connectivity, waste management, environmental protection, and cooperation in high-quality workforce training.

The Austrian government and its trade and investment promotion agencies reaffirmed their commitment to supporting businesses in exploring opportunities, expanding partnerships, and connecting with Da Nang.

To date, Da Nang has signed nearly 20 memorandums of cooperation with major global organisations including Abu Dhabi Global Market, Binance, Tether, APEX Group and the Swiss FinTech Association, creating an important foundation for building a future financial-technology ecosystem.

The series of economic diplomacy activities in Switzerland and Austria not only helps Da Nang expand its cooperation network in Europe but also deepens relations with countries possessing world-leading strengths in finance and technology. Diversifying partnerships and reducing dependence on traditional markets provide the city with greater leverage and negotiating power on the international stage.

Clearly, economic diplomacy is becoming a decisive force in Da Nang’s transformation—affirming its emerging role not only as the socio-economic centre of central Viet Nam but also as a pioneer guiding modern development in the region.