Green growth - A global trend, an inevitable choice.

Kinhtedothi - On November 28, the Government's Electronic Information Portal organized a seminar titled "Green Growth - A Global Trend, an Inevitable Choice".

Participating in the seminar, representatives from ministries, localities, and businesses all affirmed that green growth is an irreversible trend and an inevitable choice for Vietnam to achieve its sustainable development goals in the future.

Guests attending the seminar "Green Growth - A Global Trend, an Inevitable Choice".

Green growth is not only a goal but also a strong commitment of Vietnam to the international community in minimizing negative impacts on the environment and working towards the Net Zero target by 2050.

Green growth is a strategic direction of the Government.

Speaking at the seminar, Mr. Le Viet Anh, Director of the Department of Science, Education, Resources and Environment ( Ministry of Planning and Investment ), said that the Government has issued the National Strategy on Green Growth for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, and is also developing national action plans to promote the application of green solutions in all economic sectors.

This includes financial and non-financial incentives for businesses participating in this process, such as tax breaks, access to finance, and interest rate regulations, to implement sustainable development projects.

Referring to the impact of new-generation free trade agreements on promoting green growth in Vietnam, Mr. Quach Quang Dong, Deputy Director of the Energy Saving and Sustainable Development Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), said that the FTAs ​​that Vietnam is currently participating in, such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans- Pacific Partnership Agreement (CPTPP) and the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), not only open export opportunities for Vietnamese businesses but also require businesses to improve product quality and meet stricter environmental standards.

This poses a significant challenge for businesses in maintaining a competitive price advantage while still complying with international environmental standards.

Therefore, the transition to a green growth model is not only a trend but also an essential requirement for Vietnamese businesses to integrate and develop sustainably in the global economic environment.

The support of local authorities and the business community.

Green growth requires not only efforts from the Government but also the collaboration and creativity of localities and the business community in developing green business models and building a long-term sustainable development strategy, aiming for a green and prosperous future for the country.

From a business perspective, Mr. Binu Jacob, General Director of Nestlé Vietnam, shared Nestlé's investment activities for sustainable development in Vietnam. Nestlé always places sustainable development at a high priority.

One of Nestlé's notable initiatives is ensuring sustainable sourcing. For coffee – the product line in which Nestlé operates most strongly – Nestlé always ensures that the coffee it purchases from producers in Vietnam is high-quality and sustainably produced.

Through the NESCAFÉ Plan program, Nestlé has supported more than 21,000 coffee farmers in transitioning to regenerative agriculture, reducing chemical fertilizers and pesticides by 20% and saving 40-60% of irrigation water. Nestlé also saves water in all its factories. Currently, Nestlé achieves 100% water neutrality, meaning that 100% of the water used is returned and recycled. To promote the circular economy, Nestlé is committed to developing sustainable packaging, with nearly 95% of Nestlé's packaging in Vietnam designed to be recyclable…

These activities not only help Nestlé minimize its environmental impact but also raise public awareness and encourage other businesses to participate in sustainable development.

Locally, following the directives of the Government and the Prime Minister, Hung Yen province has shifted from a brown economy to a green economy.

According to Mr. Nguyen Hung Nam, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Hung Yen province has actively implemented comprehensive solutions to promote sustainable growth. Specifically, the province focuses on infrastructure development, attracting investment, and reforming administrative procedures to create favorable conditions for businesses to operate.

Hung Yen province has implemented important infrastructure projects such as transportation systems connecting industrial zones, while also investing in infrastructure such as water supply, electricity supply, and social housing for workers. Environmental protection programs have also been implemented, such as the Sustainable Agriculture Development Project and the Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Project…

These results have helped Hung Yen not only develop strongly economically but also protect the environment, while contributing to Vietnam's overall goal of achieving green growth commitments.

Establishing a legal framework for sustainable development.

However, delegates also noted that the current process of sustainable and green growth still faces many obstacles and challenges. In particular, businesses are unable to determine which incentive mechanisms they will be eligible for. This not only affects investment decisions but also reduces the motivation of businesses to transform their business models towards sustainability and green practices.

Changing production lines or investing in green technologies can be very costly. Furthermore, the lack of financial resources to support green transition is also a major obstacle…

Referring to future solutions from a business perspective, Binu Jacob believes that "more needs to be done."

First, we need to improve the legal framework to further promote green and sustainable growth. Second, we need to develop human resources capable of implementing sustainable and green development. Finally, we need to build local initiatives and models because sustainable and green growth models commonly seen around the world must be adapted to suit each locality, rather than simply being copied and applied as is.

From the perspective of the industry and trade sector, Mr. Quach Quang Dong believes that mechanisms and policies need to include assessments, analyses, and evaluations, while also recognizing, encouraging, and supporting efforts to enhance awareness and orientation towards sustainable consumption and production, aiming for green and clean goods and services. It is necessary to create incentives for leading businesses to take the lead, maintain pioneering positions, and guide others to follow suit.

To support businesses, the Government and relevant ministries and agencies need to supplement and refine mechanisms and policies to adapt to the new global context and situation, while protecting the legitimate interests of businesses, creating favorable conditions for their development, and mitigating risks. Further strengthening close coordination between ministries and agencies, as well as between the central and local levels, is also crucial.

Representing the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Mr. Le Viet Anh also affirmed that one of the important tasks of the Government in the coming time is to complete the legal framework for sustainable development and green growth.

In particular, Mr. Le Viet Anh emphasized the role of the national green classification system. This is an important tool for defining criteria and standards for green businesses and investment projects.

The Vietnamese government has issued clear directives on building this system, and currently, relevant ministries and agencies are coordinating to develop a green sorting system that meets international standards, while ensuring flexibility to incorporate new technologies and green business models.
“We are committed to ensuring that this system will create the most appropriate and clear mechanisms and policies for businesses, so that they know what conditions they need to meet and what incentives and encouragements they will receive under the national policy framework. This green classification system will also ensure progress and flexibility in terms of changes or additions,” Mr. Le Viet Anh emphasized.

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/tang-truong-xanh-xu-the-toan-cau-su-lua-chon-tat-yeu.html