Sustainable development through eco-industrial parks

Eco-industrial parks are an effective solution to harmonize industrial development with environmental sustainability, bringing benefits to both businesses and local communities.

Mr. Tran Van Ty, Deputy Head of the Management Board of Da Nang High-Tech Park and Industrial Zones, spoke at the workshop. Photo: MAI QUE

On August 15, in Da Nang, a workshop was held on “Guidelines for implementing Circular No. 05/2025/TT-BKHĐT: Roadmap for certification of eco-industrial parks in Vietnam”. The workshop is part of the project “Replicating the eco-industrial park approach to promote circular economy in Vietnam” (GEIPP Vietnam), funded by the Swiss Government through the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and organized by the Ministry of Finance .

The workshop created a forum for dialogue between parties to jointly remove obstacles and promote action for the next phase of transformation of industrial zones in Vietnam.

Urgent requirement

Ms. Vuong Thi Minh Hieu, Deputy Director of the Foreign Investment Agency (Ministry of Finance) said that in the period of 2014 - 2015, UNIDO pioneered in researching, advocating policies and testing models in industrial parks: Khanh Phu, Gian Khau (Ninh Binh), Hoa Khanh (Da Nang), Tra Noc ( Can Tho ).

The ecological industrial park model has proven its effectiveness with impressive figures in energy saving and environmental emission reduction such as: saving more than 24,000 MWh of electricity/year, saving nearly 280,000m3 of water/year, reducing 139,000 ^tons of CO2 per year.

To transform and develop eco-industrial parks, perfecting the policy framework is very important. On January 24, 2025, the Ministry of Planning and Investment (now the Ministry of Finance) issued Circular 05, effective from March 15, 2025, which is an important step in institutionalizing regulations on eco-industrial parks, following Decree 35/2022/ND-CP of the Government regulating the management of industrial parks and economic zones, contributing to realizing the goal of sustainable industrial development, minimizing environmental impacts and optimizing resource use.

Mr. Tran Xuan Tung, Head of Economic Zone Management Department - Foreign Investment Agency (Ministry of Finance) shared information at the workshop. Photo: MAI QUE

According to Mr. Tran Xuan Tung, Head of Economic Zone Management Department - Foreign Investment Agency, as of May 2025, the whole country has 475 industrial parks established with a total area of 144,600 hectares.

Including: 8 industrial parks in border economic zones, 49 industrial parks in coastal economic zones and 418 industrial parks outside economic zones. Of which, 324 industrial parks are in operation (95,700ha), the average occupancy rate is 78.8%. The Southeast region has the largest number of industrial parks, followed by the Red River Delta.

However, nationwide, there are only about 10 industrial parks that are completing the conversion to ecological industrial parks and 2 industrial parks that have been approved for investment and development according to the new ecological industrial park model since their establishment.

This is a modest figure, especially in the context that Vietnam has signed 17 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), issued a Green Growth Strategy, circular economy, committed to carbon neutrality by 2050 and the requirements of the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

Efforts to transform ecological industrial parks

Recommending solutions for Da Nang and other localities, Mr. Tran Xuan Tung outlined the following directions: perfecting guidance documents, enhancing inter-ministerial coordination to handle problems; providing technical support and building green infrastructure; training and communication to raise awareness; mobilizing resources from international and private sectors.

Ms. Nguyen Tram Anh, Project Manager of “Replicating the Eco-Industrial Park Approach to Promote Circular Economy in Vietnam” shared at the workshop. Photo: MAI QUE

Mr. Tung also said that localities should integrate the orientation of developing ecological industrial parks into the planning; orient investors to convert or build new infrastructure; invest in upgrading technical and social infrastructure; attract selective investment, prioritize high technology and research and development (R&D); ensure to meet ESG (sustainable development) standards to participate deeply in the global value chain.

Mr. Tran Van Ty, Deputy Head of the Management Board of Da Nang High-Tech Park and Industrial Parks, shared that in 2015, Hoa Khanh Industrial Park was one of the first three industrial parks in the country to coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and UNIDO to implement the Pilot project of converting to an ecological industrial park model.

In the period 2016 - 2019, the project supported resource efficiency assessment and cleaner production for 29 enterprises; guided the implementation of 228 cleaner production solutions, estimated to help enterprises save more than 14 billion VND/year, reduce nearly 50,000m3 of wastewater and more than 5,000 tons of CO2/year.

During the 2020 - 2023 period, the project will continue to support resource efficiency consulting at 22 enterprises, implementing 82 cleaner production solutions, estimated to help enterprises save 7.7 billion VND/year.

The above figures show that developing according to the ecological industrial park model is not only an environmental issue but also directly related to the sustainable development of enterprises in the new era.

From the initial achievements, Da Nang city issued the Project "Building Da Nang - an environmental city" for the period 2021 - 2030; in which the task is assigned to develop or successfully convert at least 2 ecological industrial parks by 2030.

To achieve its goals soon, Da Nang is building new development models with three pillars: modern, smart and highly competitive. Thereby, creating superior combined strength, enhancing Da Nang's regional and international position. The city is also making efforts to shift from environmental protection thinking to environmental economic thinking.

The Management Board will soon advise the City People's Committee to issue appropriate local mechanisms to encourage businesses to proactively participate in building ecological industrial parks.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/phat-trien-ben-vung-thong-qua-khu-cong-nghiep-sinh-thai-3299528.html