This was the focus of the working session on June 2 between Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, the Swiss Agency for Cooperation and Development and Head of Infrastructure Financing Dagmar Vogel.
At the meeting, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep expressed his deep appreciation for the longstanding and practical support of the Swiss Government, particularly the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), in the areas of natural disaster risk management and sustainable development in Vietnam.
Since 2008, Vietnam has been a priority in SECO’s cooperation strategy. The support has been implemented in various forms, including financial and technical assistance, as well as institutional and infrastructure development.
Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep (center) expressed his hope that the two sides will continue to expand their cooperative relationship in the coming time. Photo: VDDMA.SECO is continuing its support for Vietnam through an ongoing project assessing flash flood and landslide risks in Hà Giang Province, with the broader goal of expanding early warning systems to other northern mountainous provinces. Vietnam has proposed that SECO further assist by introducing new technologies, including real-time risk mapping, digital data platforms, and enhanced community awareness programs.
During recent discussions, Deputy Minister Hiep suggested formalizing bilateral cooperation through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would establish mechanisms for data sharing, post-disaster recovery, and joint training activities and workshops. SECO welcomed the proposal and reaffirmed its commitment to deepening its partnership with Vietnam.
In addition, SECO expressed strong support for two new project proposals: “Supporting Mountainous Urban Areas to Strengthen Disaster Risk Reduction Capacity for Flash Floods and Landslides” and “Establishing a Natural Disaster Prevention and Control Experience Center in Vietnam.” The agency underscored the relevance of these initiatives in improving disaster resilience in mountainous urban areas, which face heightened risks due to climate change and complex terrain.
Beyond disaster risk mitigation through structural and non-structural solutions, the proposed projects aim to raise public awareness through educational programs and hands-on experiences. SECO representatives confirmed receipt of all relevant documents and said they would review the proposals carefully before providing detailed feedback in the coming period.