Water resources management: A vital requirement and the role of business

DNVN - Water is not only the lifeblood of the economy but also the key to achieving sustainable development goals. Faced with the risk of water degradation and depletion, mobilizing the participation of the private sector through public-private partnership models is considered an urgent solution to ensure national water security.

On the morning of September 16 in Hanoi , the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD), under the Vietnam Confederation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), organized a sharing program with the theme "Strengthening governance and conservation of water resources for sustainable development goals and effective adaptation to climate change".

From pioneering action to the challenge of replication

In his opening speech, Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh - Vice President of VCCI, President of VBCSD affirmed that water is the lifeblood of the economy , from agriculture, industry to daily life. However, the current state of Vietnam's surface water resources (about 330-340 billion m³/year) is facing many risks of degradation and depletion. Therefore, the effective, economical and renewable use of water resources is a strategic requirement.

The current context further demonstrates the importance of this issue, as the Party and Government are implementing major resolutions on international integration, institutional breakthroughs, energy security and the role of private enterprises. All of these goals are closely related to the sustainability of water resources.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh - Vice President of VCCI, President of VBCSD.

“Water resource management is a vital requirement for economic development, energy security and social stability. In that context, the role of the business sector in conserving and effectively using water resources is becoming increasingly important,” Mr. Vinh emphasized.

In fact, many businesses in Vietnam have pioneered in applying sustainable water management initiatives and improving technology to save, reuse and recycle water in production activities.

Sharing about Heineken Vietnam's strategy, Mr. Nguyen Huu Hoang - Head of Sustainable Development Department said that water conservation is one of the top priorities of the business. Thanks to initiatives and multi-stakeholder cooperation efforts, Heineken Vietnam has realized its ambition to compensate for water 5 years earlier than expected in the Tien River basin - an area facing a lot of water pressure.

However, the challenge is that not all businesses have enough resources to keep up, especially small and medium-sized enterprises that lack financial and technological capacity.

According to Mr. Hoang, there are three aspects that need to be considered to promote more effective water resource conservation, including: policy, technology and cooperation. Regarding policy, he recommended a clearer legal corridor.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Hoang - Head of Sustainable Development of Heineken Vietnam.

"Currently, although there are many support policies, we believe that there needs to be stronger support in policy creation. Specifically, there needs to be a clear and favorable legal corridor for reusing treated wastewater for purposes such as watering plants. When businesses can do this effectively, we will significantly reduce the amount of clean water exploited for production," said Mr. Hoang.

On the technology side, the big challenge is how to replicate successful models for the business community. The final and most important factor is collaboration.

"Heineken Vietnam alone cannot carry out this mission. Our projects always need the cooperation of the Government, agencies, social organizations and the community," Mr. Hoang shared.

Promoting public-private partnership

From the perspective of the management agency, Mr. Nguyen Minh Khuyen - Deputy Director of the Department of Water Resources Management (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) said that mobilizing the participation of the private sector is extremely urgent in the context of limited State budget.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Khuyen - Deputy Director of the Department of Water Resources Management (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment).

"Public-private partnership (PPP) not only helps supplement investment capital but also brings management experience, advanced technology, and effective operating methods from businesses. At the same time, the participation of the private sector will create healthy competitive pressure, improve the quality of water supply services, wastewater treatment, monitoring and water resource restoration," Mr. Khuyen said.

For this model to be effective, Mr. Khuyen proposed that it is necessary to soon complete the institution and issue a separate legal framework for PPP in the water resources sector. At the same time, create motivation for businesses through mechanisms such as adjusting water prices according to market principles and tax incentives and green credits.

Reaffirming the roles of all parties, VCCI Vice President Nguyen Quang Vinh said that strong support from policies and financial institutions is needed. Especially the role of the press in spreading, inspiring and connecting the community.

Through the event, VCCI and VBCSD hope that businesses will be more aware of their responsibilities, and at the same time call for the support of press agencies to raise awareness of the whole society about the sustainable use of water resources.

Moonlight

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/doanh-nghiep/quan-tri-tai-nguyen-nuoc-yeu-cau-song-con-va-vai-tro-cua-doanh-nghiep/20250916105236824