Ambassador Ngo Huong Nam: Green growth relationship connects Vietnam and the Netherlands

Vietnamese Ambassador to the Netherlands Ngo Huong Nam. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in the Netherlands)

On the eve of the 4th Summit of the Partnership for Green Growth and the Global Goals (P4G), Vietnamese Ambassador to the Netherlands Ngo Huong Nam shared with The Gioi va Viet Nam Newspaper the close cooperation in responding to climate change and green transformation between Vietnam and the Netherlands, two active members of P4G.

Vietnam and the Netherlands have long cooperated closely to promote sustainable growth and 2025 also marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the "Strategic Partnership on Climate Change Adaptation and Water Management" (2010 - 2015). Could you highlight the highlights of the bilateral relationship in this area?

Vietnam and the Netherlands established a "Strategic Partnership on Climate Change Adaptation and Water Management" in 2010, marking an important step forward in bilateral cooperation to address global environmental challenges. This year, we celebrate the 15th anniversary of this Strategic Partnership.

Within the general framework of the Comprehensive Partnership, the relationship between the two countries has two strategic connotations: Strategic Partnership on Climate Change Adaptation and Water Management; and Strategic Partnership on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security. Both of these Strategic Partnerships have made important contributions to promoting green growth in Vietnam.

I would like to highlight the outstanding achievements of the bilateral relationship in green growth in these two strategic areas, converging in the Mekong Delta (MD). The Netherlands and the MD have many similarities. It can be said that the MD is a copy of the Netherlands in Vietnam with similar areas and populations. The Netherlands Delta is below sea level, heavily affected by rising sea levels and climate change. The MD also faces similar risks when it is predicted that nearly half of the region will be below sea level in 100 years if there are no timely response solutions.

From this similarity, the Netherlands has helped Vietnam build an integrated Master Plan for the development of the Mekong Delta, including solutions for green agricultural development to adapt to climate change, especially rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion.

An important contribution of the Netherlands is to change the policy thinking from “fighting nature” to “following nature”. For example, instead of extreme and costly measures to prevent salt water, Vietnam switched from rice cultivation to shrimp farming in saline areas, reducing costs and bringing high economic efficiency. Thanks to that, Vietnam has become one of the leading shrimp exporters in the world.

In addition to supporting the development of plans, the Netherlands also directly supports Vietnam in realizing these plans, with the participation of many Dutch companies with experience in finance and green technology.

When visiting Vietnam in November 2023, former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte once said that the Mekong Delta is like a part of the Netherlands. It can be said that the Mekong Delta is considered a predestined relationship for the two countries to have a close connection in green growth.

Ambassador Ngo Huong Nam visited the wind farm of Pondera Company – a company that is looking to invest in an offshore wind power project in Thai Binh province. (Source: Embassy of Vietnam in the Netherlands)

According to the Ambassador, what experiences can Vietnam learn from the Netherlands to improve its capacity to respond to climate change and accelerate the green transition and digital transformation?

As a co-founder and active participant in P4G, the Netherlands is a pioneer in climate change response, green transition and digital transformation. Vietnam can learn from the Netherlands’ experience in many areas.

In terms of responding to climate change , the Netherlands has extensive experience in delta and coastal management. The European country has implemented the Delta Program with a vision to 2050, focusing on water management and protecting deltas from the impacts of climate change. Vietnam can continue to learn from this experience and apply green and “nature-friendly” technologies to protect the Mekong Delta, the Red River Delta and coastal areas.

Let me share a practical experience. The city of The Hague, where the Embassy is located, is 2m below sea level on average. The capital Amsterdam is 3m below sea level on average. There are places I have been to that are 6-7m below sea level. However, life in the Netherlands is still peaceful and there is no flooding. That experience gives me confidence that if Vietnam learns from the Netherlands, we will no longer be afraid of rising sea levels.

Regarding green transformation towards sustainable agriculture, the Netherlands applies high technology in agriculture, such as using greenhouses to save water and fertilizer, and reducing the use of pesticides. In 2014, the two countries established a Strategic Partnership on sustainable agriculture and food security. Over the past 10 years, this Strategic Partnership framework has been very effective, supporting Vietnam in developing an increasingly greener agriculture.

Regarding circular economy , the Netherlands promotes emission reduction production through circular economic development, such as using food waste to produce animal feed. Vietnam can apply this model to minimize environmental impact.

Regarding digital transformation, the Netherlands applies population data management by digitizing personal information and population data with a high level of security, serving the development of the technological economy. Vietnam can learn from this experience to build a modern population database. The Netherlands is ready to support Vietnam in digital transformation, population management and data management, through experience sharing and technical support.

In addition to the above fields, the Netherlands is also promoting cooperation with Vietnam in the fields of renewable energy, green logistics... Strengthening cooperation with the Netherlands will help Vietnam improve its capacity to transition to a green economy, contributing to the country's sustainable development.

Vietnam-Netherlands Trade Promotion and Connection Conference in The Hague, December 2024. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in the Netherlands)

Ambassador, please assess the role of businesses in green growth cooperation. What plans has the Vietnamese Embassy implemented to increase business participation in this process?

It must be affirmed that enterprises play a key role in promoting green economic growth. Enterprises, as a force directly involved in production and business, have the ability to apply circular and sustainable production and business models, contributing to reducing carbon emissions and moving towards the goal of net zero emissions.

As one of the two founding countries of P4G (along with Denmark), the Netherlands is a pioneer in the field of green growth with a community of green businesses, green technology, green solutions... The close connection between businesses of the two countries in recent times has contributed significantly to Vietnam's green development process.

On this occasion, I would like to announce some good news. In 2024, for the first time, the Netherlands surpassed Germany to become Vietnam's largest trading partner in the European Union (EU). For more than 10 years, the Netherlands has maintained its position as the EU's largest investor in Vietnam. Combining the above two factors, the Netherlands is becoming Vietnam's most important economic partner in Europe.

As a bridge between the two countries, the Vietnamese Embassy in the Netherlands has been implementing many activities to connect businesses of the two sides; promote green investment, apply green technology, green solutions, and green trade of the Netherlands to Vietnam.

In 2024, the Embassy welcomed and arranged programs for nearly half of the provinces and cities of Vietnam to visit the Netherlands for economic cooperation purposes; organized 5 seminars to promote investment, trade and tourism; supported the signing of 10 cooperation agreements between localities and businesses.

In 2025, the Embassy is working closely with the Netherlands Business Association in Vietnam (DBAV) to lobby the Dutch Parliament to ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to create a favorable environment for the Netherlands to maintain its position as the EU's largest investor and trader in Vietnam in the coming years.

Finally, I wish the P4G Summit a success, creating new momentum to help Vietnam achieve green growth in the coming time. Although he cannot attend in person, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof will deliver a speech via video at the Summit.

I would like to sincerely thank The World and Vietnam Newspaper for giving me the opportunity to share some thoughts on green growth in the relationship between the two countries.

Thank you very much Ambassador!

Ambassador Ngo Huong Nam and the Vietnamese delegation visited the Amsterdam waste-to-energy plant, the largest in Europe. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in the Netherlands)

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/dai-su-ngo-huong-nam-moi-nhan-duyen-tang-truong-xanh-gan-ket-viet-nam-ha-lan-310829.html