(MPI) – On November 15, 2024, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, in coordination with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), held a signing ceremony for the Project Document “Replicating the Eco-Industrial Park Approach to Promote Circular Economy in Vietnam”. Attending the event were Deputy Minister Do Thanh Trung, Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam Thomas Gass and UNIDO Country Representative in Vietnam Le Thi Thanh Thao.
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| Signing ceremony of the Project Document “Replicating the eco-industrial park approach to promote circular economy in Vietnam”. Photo: MPI |
At the Signing Ceremony, Deputy Minister Do Thanh Trung announced that the Ministry of Planning and Investment received a budget of 3,346,009 USD sponsored by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) to promote the implementation of circular economy and minimize the impact of climate change in industrial zones (IPs) in Vietnam.
This funding will facilitate the replication of the eco-industrial park (EIP) model nationwide, building on successes in the 2014-2024 period, promoting a circular economy in the industrial sector and in IIPs, minimizing the impact of production activities on the environment, and supporting IIPs in responding to climate change.
The project aims to promote the implementation of circular economy in enterprises in industrial zones, reduce the environmental impact of industrial production and help industrial zones adapt to climate change. The project will continue to expand the implementation of eco-industrial zones, focusing on improving the efficiency of resource use, minimizing waste, promoting recycling, improving the economic, environmental and social efficiency of enterprises, thereby contributing to sustainable and comprehensive industrial development.
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| Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Do Thanh Trung speaks. Photo: MPI |
Sharing more, Deputy Minister Do Thanh Trung said that Switzerland became one of the first Western countries to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam since 1971. Up to now, the cooperative relationship between the two countries has continuously developed and been increasingly consolidated in many fields.
Vietnam always attaches importance to and wishes to promote all-round cooperation with Switzerland, especially in economics, trade, investment and development cooperation. The Deputy Minister thanked the Swiss government for its official development assistance (ODA) in the process of building and developing Vietnam's economy and society.
For sustainable development of industrial activities and industrial zones, with the support of SECO, Vietnam has converted 04 industrial zones to EIPs (phase 2015-2029) and 03 industrial zones are undergoing conversion from 2020 to 2024.
Some notable results include: (i) Integrating regulations on eco-industrial parks into relevant legal documents on industrial parks, economic zones, environmental protection, and sustainable development; (ii) supporting the implementation of eco-industrial park solutions at enterprises in industrial parks, saving electricity, water, materials, reducing CO2 emissions, optimizing waste reuse, and implementing circular economy; (iii) developing technical guidelines on eco-industrial parks; (iv) raising awareness, conducting training, education, and capacity building on eco-industrial parks.
With strengths in technology, banking - finance, sustainable urban development, education, healthcare, and environment, the Deputy Minister proposed that Ambassador Thomas Gass and the Swiss Government continue to support Vietnam in promoting digital economy, green economy; research and development of new industries, high technology, source technology, new materials; improve productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness of the economy; and train high-quality human resources.
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| Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam Thomas Gass speaks. Photo: MPI |
Swiss Ambassador Thomas Gass said that by supporting the transformation of industrial zones into eco-industrial parks as part of the Economic Development Cooperation Program in Vietnam, Switzerland aims to address both the opportunities and challenges facing Vietnam's industrial growth.
“Switzerland’s vision is to support Vietnam’s journey towards high-income status and its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions. Through this partnership, we hope to make a meaningful contribution to modernizing Vietnam’s industry, creating jobs, attracting investment and protecting the environment for future generations,” the Ambassador stressed.
Industry is the backbone of the economy. Industrial parks not only attract foreign investment but also promote the development of domestic enterprises, increase import and export activities, develop key industries, and contribute to modernizing urban infrastructure systems.
Currently, Vietnam has 436 industrial parks, attracting about 35-40% of the total foreign direct investment capital increasing annually, of which more than 300 industrial parks are operating, creating jobs for more than 4.16 million direct workers and contributing over 50% of the country's total export turnover. With efforts in implementing the National Strategy on Green Growth for the period 2021-2030, vision 2050, commitment to bring net emissions to 0 by 2050 at COP 26, the Circular Economy Development Project in Vietnam as well as programs to realize sustainable development goals, the conversion of industrial parks to eco-industrial parks and the construction of new eco-industrial parks in the industrial park system will contribute significantly to the implementation of green growth goals and Vietnam's international commitments in sustainable development and climate change response.
Ms. Le Thi Thanh Thao, UNIDO Country Representative in Vietnam, shared that Vietnam is one of the leading countries in Asia in terms of industrial competitiveness and is increasingly asserting its solid position in the global value chain. A country with a sustainable industrial development cannot be separated from the protection of environmental and social rights. EIPs not only help minimize negative impacts on the environment but also optimize the efficiency of resource use, save production costs, and enhance competitiveness.
UNIDO will continue to support Vietnam in transforming traditional industrial park models into eco-industrial park models, building the foundation for a smart, sustainable industry that creates added value, ensuring long-term benefits for the community and future generations, Ms. Le Thi Thanh Thao emphasized./.
| In Vietnam, the eco-industrial park model has been implemented since 2014 with the support of many international donors, including SECO and UNIDO. The project "Implementing eco-industrial parks following the approach from the Global Eco-Industrial Park Program" is jointly implemented by UNIDO and the Ministry of Planning and Investment with funding from SECO. The project inherits the results of the project "Implementing the eco-industrial park initiative towards a sustainable industrial park model in Vietnam" implemented by the Ministry of Planning and Investment in coordination with UNIDO from 2014 to 2019. The two above-mentioned projects have successfully implemented eco-industrial park models in industrial parks such as Khanh Phu, Gian Khau (Ninh Binh), Dinh Vu (Hai Phong), Hoa Khanh (Da Nang), Tra Noc (Can Tho), Amata (Dong Nai), and Hiep Phuoc (Ho Chi Minh City). |
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