Ecological industrial clusters: The inevitable direction for sustainable green development

An important link in the process of sustainable industrialization

In the context of globalization and climate change having increasingly clear impacts on all aspects of life, transforming the economic development model towards a sustainable and environmentally friendly direction has become an urgent requirement.

In particular, the industrial cluster (IC) model across the country has had many shortcomings in recent times. Many ICs have been slow to invest in completing infrastructure, attracting a small number of secondary businesses, and the limitations and problems arising in environmental protection are unresolved obstacles.

Therefore, developing ecological industrial parks is becoming one of the strategic directions of many localities in the transition to a green economy. This is not only an environmentally friendly production model but also creates comprehensive economic - social - environmental benefits, helping localities improve their competitiveness and attract high-quality investment.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thinh, Deputy Director of the Department of Innovation, Green Transformation and Industrial Promotion ( Ministry of Industry and Trade ) emphasized: “ The development of ecological industrial clusters not only helps reduce emissions, but also brings long-term economic efficiency. The Ministry of Industry and Trade hopes that localities will be pioneers in the transformation, to form a network of ecological industrial clusters in the Northern coastal region, an important link in the process of sustainable industrialization ”.

In recent times, Hai Phong has been a bright spot in the green transformation of industrial clusters. Accordingly, Hai Phong considers the development of green industry and ecological industry as the city's key orientation in the coming time. Hai Phong is actively reviewing and selecting industrial clusters with favorable infrastructure and locations to convert to ecological models, creating attraction for high-tech, environmentally friendly enterprises.

Mr. Pham Tuan Hai, Deputy Director of Hai Phong Department of Industry and Trade, said that in the development plan for the period 2025 - 2030, the city sets a target of 97 industrial parks with a total area of over 5,200 hectares, aiming to transform the development model towards green - circular - ecological.

Many provinces and cities across the country are implementing ecological industrial parks, a green industrial network, thereby creating a foundation for Vietnam to develop a green economy on a national scale.

In Hai Phong, there are some pilot models that have initially shown the effectiveness of the ecological industrial cluster model, such as Tien Cuong II Industrial Cluster (Quyet Thang Commune, Hai Phong City). The infrastructure of this industrial cluster will be completed in June 2025 and is being oriented to develop according to the "ecological industrial cluster" model, encouraging the reuse of treated wastewater and energy recovery in production.

Hanoi is also a bright spot in the transformation of green industrial clusters and ecological industrial clusters. In the development plan until 2030, Hanoi plans 43 new industrial clusters with a total area of nearly 1,900 hectares. Most of these have started construction and are in the process of building technical infrastructure. The clusters are all built according to the green economic, circular economic, and low-carbon economic thinking to minimize waste generation, aiming at the goal of sustainable development.

At Phuong Trung Industrial Park, AO technology (Anoxic Biology - Aerobic combined with physical chemistry) has been selected. Through the treatment system with a capacity of 310m³/day and night, the wastewater discharged into the environment meets column A - Technical standards on industrial wastewater according to regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thuong, Deputy Manager of Phuong Trung Industrial Park, said: " The investor of the Industrial Park has invested in a very complete and systematic wastewater treatment system. Wastewater from factories of secondary investors will be collected into a common pipeline system, treated through many stages, from physical chemistry to biology, and before being released into the environment, it will be treated with disinfectants and some chemicals ."

3T Electric Automation Joint Stock Company is a company specializing in manufacturing and assembling electrical cabinets, which has rented more than 1000m² of land at Phuong Trung Industrial Park... Domestic wastewater and wastewater generated during the production process are collected in an underground tank system for treatment by microbiological methods. After the self-treatment process, the wastewater will be transferred to the centralized wastewater treatment plant of the industrial park.

Also in Thanh Oai commune, Kim Bai Industrial Cluster is currently in the process of completing the construction of technical infrastructure with the goal of receiving investors in the fourth quarter of this year. This is also an industrial cluster built to meet green and sustainable criteria.

When many provinces and cities across the country jointly deploy eco-industrial clusters, a regional green industrial network will be formed: Connecting green logistics, inter-provincial circular supply chains, businesses sharing environmental data and opening low-carbon economic corridors. This creates a foundation for Vietnam to develop a green economy on a national scale, spreading benefits from local areas to neighboring areas.

However, in reality, there are still many difficulties in developing ecological industrial parks such as: Some industrial parks established in localities many years ago have not been adjusted to be removed from the industrial park planning; procedures for transferring and adjusting investors are still prolonged; financial mechanisms for enterprises investing in infrastructure are not suitable...

Green growth building platform

Economic experts assess that the application of the ecological industrial park model brings many benefits. First of all, it is the economic benefits, creating new and sustainable growth drivers such as: Attracting high-quality FDI capital flows, especially corporations that prioritize environmental standards, ESG governance, and the use of renewable energy. Increasing added value in production thanks to the application of clean technology, saving resources, and reducing operating costs (water, electricity, waste treatment). Forming an ecosystem of linked businesses sharing by-products, energy, and common waste treatment helps reduce costs and increase production efficiency. From there, creating a foundation for the locality to lead the country in the green industrial model, opening up new industries such as recycling, energy recovery, environmental consulting services, and circular economy.

Second , there is no trade-off between the environment and growth as the eco-industrial park helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in line with the commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. Waste is treated in a centralized system, reducing pressure on water, land and air resources. Increase the rate of reuse and recycling through the industrial symbiosis model. Thereby contributing to improving the quality of life for the surrounding community, creating a clean, safe and transparent production area.

*The ecological CCN model creates comprehensive economic - social - environmental benefits, contributing to realizing the Net Zero goal by 2050.*

Third, the development of eco-industrial parks promotes green, high-quality jobs that require technical skills, thereby raising the skill level of the local workforce. Enterprises in eco-industrial parks often comply with international labor standards, ensuring a safe working environment and better welfare. From there, it promotes innovation in the business community, spreading to the service industry, vocational education, and environmental technology research.

Fourth, it is the benefit for provinces and cities when raising their position in the region and the whole country. Accordingly, localities affirm their role as green industrial centers of the region. Build local brands leading in the development of ecological industrial clusters, creating competitive advantages compared to other provinces and cities. Form new growth poles, linked to economic corridors, logistics, seaports, helping to spread development to neighboring areas.

According to economic experts, to develop ecological industrial parks, save energy and protect the environment, there needs to be preferential policies to attract investors to participate in building technical infrastructure for industrial parks. Localities need to support investors in compensation, site clearance, procedures for establishing industrial parks, and infrastructure investment to speed up investment progress. At the same time, localities work with investors to reach consensus and commit to investment progress. When localities apply strong, synchronous solutions such as smart planning, modern technology, green incentive mechanisms, centralized processing infrastructure, etc., they will have the conditions to break through and become pioneering localities in the country.

It can be said that the development of ecological industrial parks has strategic significance, creating a foundation for the transition to a green economy. At the same time, it helps localities fulfill their commitments to reduce emissions and international environmental standards. Thereby building a foundation for a circular economy, a green economy, a low-carbon economy, contributing to the realization of the Net Zero target by 2050.

Author: Khoi Nguyen

Tags: environmental protection, ecological industrial cluster, Ministry of Industry and Trade

Source: https://moit.gov.vn/bao-ve-moi-truong/cum-cong-nghiep-sinh-thai-huong-di-tat-yeu-de-phat-trien-xanh-ben-vung.html