The Provincial Green Index (PGI) is a useful policy tool that complements the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI), contributing to improving the business investment environment; The province's policy is to develop green economy, use clean energy, clean production, clean consumption, towards sustainable development. With the view: "Do not trade environment for economic development", investment attraction in recent years has been selected by the province, coupled with strengthening inspection and supervision, minimizing the risk of environmental pollution from craft villages, industrial zones and clusters.
Technical infrastructure of Thang Long Vinh Phuc Industrial Park is designed synchronously, ensuring standards on environmental protection. Photo: Nguyen Luong
In 2022, Vinh Phuc is honored to be in the top 10 provinces and cities across the country with excellent economic management quality in 2022; in which, ranked 9th out of 63 provinces and cities with the highest PGI index voted by the Vietnam Confederation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). This result recognizes the efforts of the political system, which is the driving force for the province to continue implementing the socio-economic development goals associated with environmental protection.
Currently, the province has planned 19 industrial zones, of which 16 industrial zones have been established and have a decision on investment policy, 9 industrial zones have been put into operation with a total planning area of 3.093 ha.
The industrial zones put into operation ensure full technical infrastructure for environmental protection as prescribed, including: Rainwater drainage system, centralized wastewater treatment system, solid waste storage area, automatic wastewater monitoring system and other environmental protection technical infrastructure works.
In addition to the synchronously designed environmental protection technical infrastructure, the green area in the industrial zones is basically guaranteed according to regulations, reaching 194 hectares, accounting for nearly 9% of the total planned industrial land area. The investor of infrastructure business in industrial zones has established a department in charge of environmental protection, which is responsible for operating the wastewater treatment system, closely monitoring waste discharge activities of enterprises.
In investment promotion, the province has always been consistent with the concept of "doing not trade the environment for economic development". This view is confirmed in Decision No. 2906 of the Provincial People's Committee approving the list of projects calling for investment, projects that are restricted from attracting investment and not attracting investment in the province in the period of 2021-2025.
Accumulated to the end of the first quarter of 2023, the province has 1.274 direct investment projects, of which, there are 449 FDI projects from 20 countries and territories with a total investment of 7,7 billion USD and 825 DDI projects with a total investment capital of more than 121 trillion dong.
Currently, the province is urgently completing the Provincial Plan for the period of 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, in which, the province is particularly interested in environmental protection options, associated with socio-economic development, giving priority to attracting investment projects with high technology, clean technology, and environmentally friendly, catching up with the Net Zero trend in the world.
On the other hand, in order to improve the PGI index, the province directs all levels, branches and socio-political organizations to strengthen propaganda, raise awareness and responsibility of people and businesses for environmental protection.
The non-business budget for environmental protection is allocated annually by the province, reaching more than 1,5% of the total regular budget expenditure; In addition, investment capital for environmental protection projects is implemented from many different sources, integrated in socio-economic development projects, new rural construction program (NTM), enhanced rural areas, model cultural villages...
Currently, the province has issued regulations on protection, prevention and response to environmental incidents such as: Regulations on coordination in the management and protection of water resources, management of hydro-meteorological activities in the province; incident response procedures and organize drills, be ready to respond when incidents, disasters cause water pollution and unsafe water supply in the province...
The whole province currently has 2 waste treatment plants in Hop Hoa town (Tam Duong) and Tam Hong commune (Yen Lac) with a total design capacity of 195 tons/day; the province is in the process of investing in a project on drainage and wastewater treatment in Vinh Yen city with a capacity of 11.000m3/day; to build wastewater treatment works for towns and concentrated residential areas in order to prevent surface water pollution in the Phan and Ca Lo river basins; invest in building a daily-life solid waste treatment plant in Lap Thach district with a designed capacity of 270 tons/day and night…
Up to now, 95% of urban waste and nearly 80% of rural waste in the province have been collected and treated, 100% of industrial waste and hazardous waste from production activities are collected, transported and treated according to regulations.
In order to maintain and improve the PGI index, improve the business investment environment, in the coming time, the province will focus on implementing 5 main groups of solutions, including: Strengthening propaganda, creating a change in awareness and responsibility of people and businesses about environmental protection.
Promote the application of scientific and technological advances, improve the efficiency of management of environmental protection, encourage activities using clean, economical and efficient energy in production.
Strengthening the inspection, examination, timely detection, prevention and handling of cases of violations of the law on environmental protection; to speed up the construction of infrastructure for wastewater collection and treatment in the province; closely coordinate with ministries, central branches, domestic and foreign organizations in training and attracting investment resources in the field of environmental protection.
At the same time, proactively grasp the operation situation of investors to promptly remove difficulties in the production investment process, concretize the State's preferential mechanisms and policies for enterprises operating in the field of environmental protection, in line with practical needs.
Hoang Son