The report, made with the support from the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment and relevant ministries and agencies, analysed the trend and role of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country over the past 20 years.

The report also gave suggestions to improve the country’s policies and environment for foreign investment in general and for the power industry development in particular.

Addressing the session, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai stressed that over the past 20 years, FDI has made remarkable contributions to Vietnam’s economic development during its transition from centrallised economy into a market-oriented, open economy.

According to him, FDI was an important source of capital for development, that has created an impetus for the increase of industries and exports, and helped boost economic restructure, and improve the economy’s competitiveness and its inner competition.

The Deputy PM also emphasised the Vietnamese government’s determination to better the country’s investment climate.

He said “We believed that the UNCTAD’s report on our policies would help boost FDI flow into Vietnam, especially from Switzerland.”

UNCTAD leaders thanked Vietnam for sending a government delegation to the session, saying that it showed the country’s commitment to improving its investment environment.

Representatives from the UNCTAD member economies, including the US, Japan, China, Singapore, Indonesia, France and Australia, as well as businessmen from Switzerland appreciated Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements, particularly in FDI attraction over recent years. They made commitments to further investment in Vietnam.

The same day, the Vietnamese delegation in coordination with UNCTAD held a round table with leading Swiss businesses.

VietNamNet/VNA