At a reception in Hanoi on Friday for Guy Parmelin, Federal Councillor and head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research of Switzerland, Prime Minister Phuc expressed his hope that Swiss businesses will invest in Vietnam in finance-banking, insurance, manufacturing industry, pharmacy, agricultural produce processing, and tourism. He said he believes that Mr. Parmelin’s Vietnam visit will open new prospects for the two countries and for the EU Free Trade Agreement bloc.

The guest said many Swiss businesses are investing affectively in Vietnam, ranking 6^th among Western European countries.  He added Vietnam and the EU Free Trade Agreement bloc have made progress in FTA negotiations and that the early signing of the agreement will benefit both sides.