The event is part of the ESG Vietnam Forum 2025 with the theme “ Science and technology and driving force for sustainable development”. The workshop brings together many domestic and international experts, representatives of businesses and training organizations.
Keynote speakers at the Workshop include: Dr. Phung Van Dong (Director of AIT Vietnam, senior expert on Innovation and Design Thinking); Mr. Sam Hanna (Former CEO and Vice President of ASEAN Strategy, Shell Global Lubricants; Co-Director of the EMBA program, School of Management - AIT); Dr. Luong Thai Bao (Head of International Finance Department, Institute of Banking and Finance, National Economics University).
In her opening speech, journalist Nguyen Thu Hang - Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Dan Tri newspaper - emphasized: "In the era of globalization, ESG and digital transformation are no longer trends but strategic requirements. Digital transformation helps improve operational efficiency and competitiveness; ESG is a "passport" that helps businesses access international markets and attract investment."
Journalist Nguyen Thu Hang - Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Dan Tri Newspaper shared at the Workshop (Photo: Organizing Committee).
ESG - From Trend to Strategic Imperative
In the first discussion session, Mr. Sam Hanna shared insightful insights from both global business and academic training perspectives.
Mr. Sam Hanna affirmed that ESG is no longer a choice or a temporary trend, but has become a strategic requirement for all businesses, especially in the banking industry. The economic, legal and social context in Vietnam is changing dramatically, creating Vietnam's position in the international arena.
He introduced the ESG-5 model including: Focusing on materiality; Integrating ESG into strategy; Measuring and managing ESG performance through KPIs and data; Innovating for sustainability; Engaging stakeholders such as communities, supply chains, and governments . This is an effective way for ESG to not only stop at commitment but actually come into operation.
Digital transformation and competitiveness in the banking industry
In the second session, Dr. Luong Thai Bao brought a multi-dimensional view on the topic "Impact of digital transformation on structure and competitiveness in the banking industry".
Dr. Luong Thai Bao stated that digital transformation is not only a condition to support ESG but also an important growth driver for businesses. The combination of innovation, digital transformation and ESG creates a foundation for comprehensive development, especially in the banking industry.
Mr. Luong Thai Bao emphasized that Vietnam has the advantage of a young, dynamic population, which is a great driving force for the digitalization process. However, the major barriers at present are capital sources and the lack of synchronization in policies to support green-digital transformation. Banks need to expand green financial services to help businesses access capital more easily.
Through analysis, Dr. Luong Thai Bao pointed out that banks that invest heavily in technology often have a more diversified and sustainable income structure, not just dependent on credit. This shows a positive relationship between digital transformation, ESG and business performance.
ESG HR - "Bottleneck" in the transformation process
One challenge highlighted at the workshop was the lack of human resources with professional background and practical experience in ESG - a factor that is becoming a "bottleneck" in the digital transformation journey associated with sustainable development of Vietnamese enterprises.
Dr. Phung Van Dong (Director of AIT Vietnam) (Photo: Organizing Committee).
Dr. Phung Van Dong stated that ESG is an interdisciplinary field, requiring integrated thinking and long-term planning capacity. However, Vietnamese enterprises currently lack personnel with expertise and practical experience in ESG. About 60% of enterprises said that lack of knowledge is the main barrier, while 54% have not considered ESG training for employees. In addition, 38% do not have a dedicated ESG leader.
To solve the human resource problem, AIT has implemented ESG training programs for small and medium enterprises, short-term courses and international ESG master programs. This is expected to contribute to solving the "bottleneck" of human resources in the journey of digital transformation and sustainable development.
In-depth discussion: Perspective from the banking industry
At the panel discussion “Opportunities, challenges and perspectives on ESG implementation in the Vietnamese banking industry”, experts agreed that banks play a central role in promoting ESG. With the power to allocate capital and shape standards through financial products, banks can have a ripple effect on the entire economy.
Dr. Phung Van Dong emphasized that ESG is a new field and requires time to train personnel. Enterprises, especially banks, need to proactively review and build internal capacity to be ready to practice ESG.
Dr. Phung Van Dong commented that from the financial institutions in Vietnam, there are currently only a few practical programs accompanying businesses in the ESG practice process, in which the most prominent is the Green Up green finance package of VietinBank supporting capital flows for green projects and businesses with sustainable development goals.
Dr. Luong Thai Bao believes that protecting personal data is part of ESG, not only helping to comply with the law but also enhancing competitiveness. Securing customer information will be an advantage in the digital banking environment.
Mr. Sam Hanna also shared that ESG and ESR (Environmental and Social Responsibility) can be completely integrated. ESG tends to be mandatory, while ESR tends to be voluntary to increase brand recognition. In banking, ESG helps businesses connect better and build trust from customers.
Journalist Nguyen Thu Hang presents flowers to speakers attending the Conference (Photo: Organizing Committee).
The workshop is an opportunity for experts and businesses to share experiences in implementing ESG and digital transformation, and to seek practical solutions to remove barriers and enhance implementation capacity.
The organizers affirmed that this is the opening activity for a series of events to spread awareness, enhance capacity and connect parties in the sustainable development journey of the Vietnamese business community.
The ESG Vietnam Forum 2025 with the theme "Science and technology and driving force for sustainable development" will be a place to exchange and discuss important issues such as: How can businesses apply science and technology to improve the environment and limit negative impacts on the environment?
How can businesses solve social problems such as poverty reduction, improving the quality of education and health care, and creating sustainable employment opportunities? How can science and technology enhance transparency, accountability, and governance efficiency?
The highlight of the Vietnam ESG Forum 2025 will be the Vietnam ESG Awards 2025 - a prestigious title honoring businesses that have made outstanding achievements in implementing ESG in science and technology towards sustainable development.
The organizers of the Vietnam ESG Forum believe that honoring businesses with good performance will inspire and motivate other businesses to act for a better future.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/chuyen-doi-so-va-esg-dong-luc-kep-cho-doanh-nghiep-phat-trien-ben-vung-20250624152719039.htm
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