"COMPETITION WITH GREEN WAVES": No longer an option, but a mandatory standard in the new era

Following strong commitments to emission reduction at COP26 in 2021 and commitments to energy transition at COP28 in 2023, Vietnam continues to affirm its decisive actions to reduce CO2 emissions, green transition, and energy transition, etc.

For Vietnam, green transformation is one of the objective requirements and a strategic choice for rapid, sustainable development, transforming the economy from brown to green.

In the new era - the era of national development, our country needs the strong participation of the domestic business community - a business community with a high awareness of responsibility. Green transformation is no longer a symbolic choice, but has become a mandatory standard - a new measure of business competitiveness. As the pressure from environmental standards for all countries in the world becomes increasingly strict, Vietnamese businesses need to proactively green themselves to keep up with the trend and integrate.

*The thematic workshop "COMPETITING WITH GREEN WAVES" is part of the Made By VietNam Forum 2025, within the framework of the Made By VietNam Day 2025 series of inspiring and honoring events.*

The first workshop session with the theme "COMPETITION WITH GREEN WAVES" of the Workshop Series within the framework of the Vietnamese Brand Forum - Made By VietNam Forum 2025, chaired and coordinated by Mr. Dinh Hong Ky - Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Green Business Association, provided an overall picture that deeply reflected the latest movements and once again emphasized the decisive role of green transformation to turn green production into a sustainable standard that every business must have.

*Mr. Dinh Hong Ky - Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Green Business Association chaired and coordinated the workshop "COMPETITION WITH GREEN WAVES"*

According to statistics from the Ministry of Planning and Investment , small and medium enterprises (SMEs) currently account for 97% of the total number of enterprises in Vietnam. If for large enterprises, the implementation of ESG (Environmental - Environment, Social - Society, Governance - Governance) from awareness to specific action is still a big gap, then the difficulty is even greater for the SME sector when they have to face additional limitations in finance, human resources, as well as a clear legal corridor.

Having worked directly with hundreds of businesses in Ho Chi Minh City and the southern region, Mr. Dinh Hong Ky believes that Vietnam's readiness for green transformation is only in its early stages: Much willpower, but a lack of tools.

According to Mr. Ky, the Ho Chi Minh City Green Business Association believes that green transformation is not a solitary race, but a journey that requires the support of the government, associations, and individual businesses.

The largest economic center in the country - Ho Chi Minh City is the "locomotive" in the sustainable development strategy towards a circular economy. The City Government also determined that green transformation will be a strategic pillar in the new growth model. Therefore, automation is no longer the "privilege" of large enterprises - but is becoming a viable tool for small businesses, if deployed properly and according to needs.

Currently, the Vietnam Automation Association is also collaborating with solution providers to develop a "Green Automation for SMEs" model – providing detailed guidance on implementation steps and the most accessible technological and financial solutions.

Along with digital transformation, automation is also a crucial green key to unlocking the door to a green, sustainable, and efficient journey that suits the actual resources of Vietnamese businesses today.

When discussing comprehensive green transformation, it's impossible not to mention the pioneering role of leading technology corporations – a hub of global knowledge, green initiatives, and groundbreaking solutions that help businesses optimize operations, reduce emissions, and sustainably increase efficiency and profitability.

In recent years, Schneider Electric has identified Vietnam as one of the key markets in Southeast Asia, especially in the current new context. With a global perspective, Mr. Dang Nguyen Ngu - Deputy General Director of Schneider Electric Vietnam and Cambodia said that the strategy of this unit will be to build a comprehensive digital ecosystem - from production, distribution to energy management - to support Vietnamese enterprises to improve their competitiveness in the long term.

According to Mr. Ngu, green transformation should not start with large and expensive strategies, but should start with understanding energy consumption to eliminate waste points. Then, proceed to solve the problem in a "modular" model - piece by piece to help businesses save costs. This is considered an easy-to-manage approach and gives clear results before expanding the scale.

Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park (SHTP) is not only one of the three "nuclei" for national high-tech industrial development, but also a strategically important hub for the development of science, technology, and green industries in the city.

Currently, the High-Tech Park of Ho Chi Minh City has only about 163 enterprises including FDI enterprises as well as domestic enterprises. However, the total export turnover of SHTP annually reaches about 20 billion USD, accounting for about 45 - 47% of the total export turnover of the whole Ho Chi Minh City. Thus, the role of the High-Tech Park in contributing to the development of the City is very significant.

From the development practice in recent years, Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park is recording the gathering of many pioneering enterprises applying clean technology. Attending the first thematic workshop of Made By VietNam Forum 2025, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ky Phung - Head of SHTP Management Board commented that investors have made a clear change: Not only interested in preferential policies or infrastructure, but also paying great attention to factors of sustainable development, energy saving, and the ability to connect with the innovation ecosystem.

Businesses that adopt cleaner production models, utilize renewable energy, and invest in environmentally friendly technologies have a distinct advantage in attracting international partners, reducing long-term costs, and adapting to new technical barriers from the global market.

In its role, SHTP is also striving to build a comprehensive green technology development environment, not only serving local economic development but also contributing to creating a sustainable competitive advantage for Vietnamese businesses on the global trade map.

In the wave of green transformation, the business community – especially the knowledge sector – is becoming the pioneers, not only paving the way but also inspiring profound change throughout the entire business ecosystem.

Sharing with all the guests and audiences of "COMPETITION WITH GREEN WAVES", Dr. Hoang Van Viet - Representative of the GIBA Intellectual Entrepreneurs Community affirmed that high-quality human resources will play a key role in this journey as both the creator of new business models and the source of inspiration to promote the transformation of the entire business ecosystem.

Currently, GIBA is also implementing many practical initiatives for SMEs in particular and businesses in general. This will be a place where entrepreneurs in the new era share experiences, spread inspiration and act together for a more sustainable economy. When each business changes a part, the business community will change completely. And it is that change that will create a new identity, new capacity and new position for Vietnamese brands in the global market.

Currently, GIBA is also proposing a "green knowledge loop" model – where entrepreneurs learn, apply, share, and continuously improve to genuinely spread green transformation in the community.

The "Green Wave" has been establishing new standards – not just for competition, but also for survival. This is a long-term journey, but also an opportunity to restructure businesses, strengthen internal capabilities, and affirm the position of Vietnamese brands in the international market.

Entering a new era, with the concerted efforts of the entire society, sustainable development goals will no longer be slogans, but will become a reality day by day in production and business activities.

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