Swiss businesses to be more active in Vietnam

Hanoi (VNA) - Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam Jean-Hubert Lebet said he was positive about the development of business relations between his country and Vietnam as Swiss companies are increasingly active in the Asian country.

"The Swiss business community in Vietnam is active in nearly all sectors
and I am especially pleased to see more and more investment in sectors with
higher added-value," the Ambassador told Vietnam News Agency on the occasion
of Swiss President Pascal Couchepin's Vietnam visit from August 3-6.

Switzerland is now one of the five biggest European investors in
Vietnam with over 50 projects capitalised at 720 million USD.

Swiss big names such as Nestle, ABB and Holcim are present in Vietnam ,
actively contributing to the two countries' relationship.

"Vietnamese and foreign companies at this moment are feeling the economic
slowdown, the pressure on wages due to high inflation, difficulties to
access foreign currency and so on," Ambassador Jean-Hubert Lebet said.

According to him, the business community is waiting for the Government's
right steps to stabilise the economy and to ensure that the business
environment remains sound.

He also stressed that the government is expected to continue
implementation of its obligations following the World Trade Organisation
accession as scheduled.

"Following the steps taken by the Government, the companies will further
strengthen their presence in Vietnam ," the Ambassador asserted.

Vietnam and Switzerland enjoyed a strong development of
economic-trade ties over the recent time. Two-way trade turnover in the
first six months of 2008 reached 1.84 billion USD, more than double the
figure for the entire last year at 781 million USD.-Enditem