Hai Phong Secretary: Proposing the Government to establish Vietnam's first Green Economic Zone in Hai Phong

Hai Phong City is urgently researching and proposing to the Government to establish the Southern Hai Phong Coastal Economic Zone in the direction of the first green economic zone in Vietnam...

Mr. Le Tien Chau, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of Hai Phong City Party Committee.

Speaking at the 4th Development Bridge Forum in 2024 with the theme "Vietnam's progress in developing a green and sustainable economy: From government policies to initiatives and solutions of localities and businesses" organized by Vietnam Economic Magazine in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the People's Committee of Hai Phong City on the afternoon of April 10, Mr. Le Tien Chau, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Hai Phong City Party Committee, said that green growth is an important method to maintain and create momentum for sustainable growth for the present and the future. Hai Phong is one of the pioneering localities in the country, implementing the National Strategy on Green Growth. After more than 10 years of implementing the National Strategy on Green Growth, Hai Phong City has always been one of the leading localities in the country in terms of socio-economic development results.

Speakers attending the Forum highly appreciated the initiative of the Organizing Committee in presenting the discussion content on green economy.

In 2023, in the context of general difficulties of the world and domestic economy, the city's gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth rate reached 10.34%, maintaining 9 consecutive double-digit growth rates; export turnover reached 31 billion USD, cargo output through the port reached 170 million tons. Hai Phong is also a bright spot in attracting foreign direct investment, attracting over 3.6 billion USD in 2023. In the first quarter of 2024, Hai Phong ranked first among the 5 centrally run cities in GRDP growth (9.32%, 1.6 times higher than the average growth rate of the whole country); compared to the same period last year, domestic budget revenue reached over 18,900 billion VND, an increase of over 130%, reaching 50% of the central budget estimate; export turnover reached about 7.74 billion USD, an increase of over 18%. In particular, in Hai Phong, DEEP C Industrial Park and Nam Cau Kien Industrial Park are oriented to develop into ecological industrial parks, pioneering the construction of ecological industrial parks in Vietnam.

On December 2, 2023, the Government approved the Hai Phong City Planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050. Accordingly, the Planning sets out 06 development perspectives, in which the city focuses on developing a number of modern science and technology fields, especially the marine economy field, so that Hai Phong can truly take the lead in the industrialization and modernization of the whole country; soon become a city with modern industry, services and high-tech, organic, green, circular agriculture, associated with digital transformation. The world context is evolving very complicatedly and unpredictably, geopolitical conflicts are taking place fiercely, crises caused by climate change and depletion of natural resources are posing many challenges to the development of each country and each locality; but at the same time, it helps us see more clearly the importance of protecting the living environment, ensuring harmony between humans and nature; Green and sustainable economic development is the key and mandatory direction for countries around the world and each locality, including Hai Phong. At today's Forum, on behalf of Hai Phong City, Mr. Le Tien Chau proposed three main issues. First, the Vietnamese Government's commitment to achieving zero net emissions at COP26 is considered a very impressive commitment, demonstrating Vietnam's great political determination. However, the issue of sustainable development, net emissions or carbon neutrality is still quite new to a large number of Vietnamese people. The subjects that play a leading role and strongly promote the commitment to zero net emissions, or green development, are businesses. You have full information, conditions and necessary resources to do this. Therefore, it is proposed that businesses must demonstrate a pioneering spirit, taking the lead in implementing the strategy of green and sustainable economic development. On that basis, the Government and localities need to build a comprehensive legal corridor and an appropriate approach to encourage and create the most favorable conditions for businesses in the green transformation process, by initially allowing the piloting of new economic models in the direction of green and sustainability. Second, green transformation needs a suitable roadmap, taking into account the specific conditions and different capacities of localities (for example, localities with strengths in agriculture will need different requirements and roadmaps than localities with a foundation for industrial development). Therefore, localities across the country need to promote the spirit of solidarity, cooperation, sharing and harmonizing interests for the common goal of the Government. Third, responding to the Government's strategic orientation on green and sustainable development, Hai Phong City is urgently researching and proposing to the Government to establish the Southern Hai Phong Coastal Economic Zone in the direction of the first green economic zone in Vietnam; at the same time, developing Cat Ba archipelago to become a "green" tourist destination. Hai Phong is looking forward to receiving the attention, support and facilitation of the Government, Central Ministries, branches and other localities for this proposal. The Secretary of Hai Phong emphasized that, by co-organizing this important and meaningful event with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnam Economic Magazine, Hai Phong city hopes that this Forum will create opportunities for all parties to share their mission, vision and goals, seek opportunities and strengthen cooperation, "greening" from ideas, awareness to action to contribute to creating a greener, more beautiful and more sustainable future. "As one of the five centrally-run cities, the economic locomotive of the Northern Region, Hai Phong City commits to continue to synchronously and drastically implement solutions, integrate into the general development rhythm of the country, turning Hai Phong City into a "green city" based on a "green, sustainable economy". At the same time, effectively implement the city's green growth projects in the coming time to improve the city's competitiveness with the vision of becoming a model of a dynamic, green, clean, livable city in the region and an attractive destination for domestic and foreign investors", Mr. Le Tien Chau emphasized.

VnEconomy

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