Aiming for a strategic goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, Ho Chi Minh City has identified green finance and carbon credit markets as inseparable pillars in its sustainable development roadmap. To realize its vision of building an international financial center, the city is striving to remove bottlenecks in policy, market, and capital sources, in order to unlock green capital flows and support businesses in their transformation.
Leading experts participated in the discussion at the workshop.
Through practical research, the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies, in collaboration with VinUni University, has proposed a system of 49 solution groups and 48 key green transformation projects to be implemented across 11 different sectors. This is the roadmap for the period 2025-2035, with an estimated total capital requirement of up to 900,000 billion VND, demanding breakthrough steps in mobilizing diverse financial resources.
The issue of financial resources is currently a pressing problem, as the public budget can only act as "seed capital" to guide investment in basic infrastructure. To fill the gap of hundreds of trillions of dong, the city needs to promote models of social mobilization and seek support from international organizations.
Pham Binh An, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Research, analyzed: "The research group has estimated that approximately 900,000 billion VND will be needed for green transformation from now until 2035. Of this, the budget, even with careful allocation, is only expected to cover a maximum of 20%, primarily for leading investments in basic infrastructure. The remainder will be mobilized through socialized resources via PPPs."
Mr. Pham Binh An - Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Research
Carbon credit trading: A key tool for attracting green capital flows.
In the sustainable finance network, carbon credit exchanges are not only a tool for raising capital but also a symbol of the environmental governance capacity of a modern city. Vietnam currently has an extremely favorable foundation, as by August 2025, the country had issued more than 30 million carbon credits under 158 voluntary projects, ranking among the top 5 carbon credit providers in the world . Establishing a specialized exchange in Ho Chi Minh City will help elevate the city's status and attract international green capital into local emission reduction projects.
Ms. Nguyen Truc Van, Director of the Center for Economic and Social Simulation and Forecasting, stated that this has been included in the Central Government's strategic direction: "In the Resolution on building the Vietnam International Finance Center, the carbon credit trading platform is one of the types of trading platforms prioritized for development. Currently, the operating agency of the International Finance Center in Ho Chi Minh City is also focusing on the carbon credit trading platform as a priority product for development in the coming period and has taken initial preparatory steps."
Ms. Nguyen Truc Van, M.Sc. - Director of the Center for Economic and Social Simulation and Forecasting
For the carbon credit market to operate effectively and efficiently, technology and transparent trading mechanisms are essential. Current exchanges are designed based on modern order matching algorithms and flexible auction mechanisms to accurately reflect the true value of carbon credits in the global market.
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Dung, Deputy General Director of ASEAN Carbon Credit Exchange Joint Stock Company (CCTPA), shared about the three pillars of the exchange's operation: "The exchange is built on three core mechanisms. Firstly, spot trading. Secondly, the demand-based ordering mechanism, also known as pre-sale contracts. Thirdly, the auction mechanism."
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Dung - Deputy General Director of ASEAN Carbon Credit Exchange Joint Stock Company (CCTPA)
This diversity in transaction methods will give businesses more control over buying, selling, and managing their emission quotas.
完善 policies to promote the circular economy
Besides technical infrastructure, experts also emphasized the need to improve the legal framework and grant greater autonomy to localities. Allowing Ho Chi Minh City to proactively use revenue from the carbon market to reinvest in climate programs, digital transformation, and the circular economy will create a sustainable green development cycle.
Simultaneously, the application of Blockchain technology to digitize and manage carbon credits will help prevent risks related to data integrity, ensuring ownership based on actual investment capital. When the carbon credit exchange officially comes into operation, Ho Chi Minh City will not only be an economic powerhouse but also become a leading green finance center in the region, transforming environmental commitments into real economic value, contributing to protecting the planet and building a future for generations to come.
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Source: https://htv.com.vn/tp-ho-chi-minh-uu-tien-thuc-day-san-giao-dich-tin-chi-carbon-222260117102015716.htm
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