Building a green future

This morning, October 21st, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Trade Promotion Department ( Ministry of Industry and Trade ) collaborated with the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) to organize the Green Economy Forum and Exhibition 2024 (GEFE 2024).

Delegates cut the ribbon to inaugurate the Green Economy Forum and Exhibition 2024 (GEFE 2024) - (Photo: Dieu Linh).

Attending the program were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son; Mr. Phan Van Mai – Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City; Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc, along with leaders from various ministries, agencies, the Government Office , the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Planning and Investment; leaders of provinces and centrally-administered cities; associations, industries, and Vietnamese businesses.

Representing the EU were Mr. Margaritis Schinas, Vice President of the European Commission; Mr. Bruno Jaspaert, President of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCharm); Mr. Alain Cany - Co-Chair of the GEFE Organizing Committee and Chairman of the EuroCham Vietnam Advisory Board; along with leaders of the European Union Delegation in Vietnam, leaders of ministries, sectors, and international organizations in EU countries, Ambassadors and Consuls General of several European countries in Vietnam, EuroCham leaders and EU businesses, experts, speakers, and scientists from Europe.

The event, themed "Creating a Green Future," aims to help Vietnamese businesses access initiatives and solutions to accelerate the green transformation process. Experts also updated participants on new regulations and policies from Europe to help businesses adjust their strategies to align with global standards. This is also a practical activity in the process of effectively implementing the National Growth Strategy for the period 2021-2030.

Mr. Alain Cany - Co-Chair of the GEFE Organizing Committee and Chairman of the EuroCham Vietnam Advisory Board, speaks at the opening ceremony - (Photo: Dieu Linh).

The highlight of the event was over 30 discussion sessions spanning 10 green themes and a high-level opening session. The sessions discussed emerging green topics in Vietnam and approaches to policies and standards in the EU market.

Specifically, the 10 workshop sessions will cover the following topics: Renewable energy and energy efficiency; Sustainable finance; Decarbonization in commercial production; Green building and construction; Circular economy; Solutions to overcome the water crisis; Sustainable food and agriculture; Sustainable tourism; Digitalization and new technologies; and Enhancing green human resources.

In addition, the event also attracted more than 200 exhibition booths showcasing products, initiatives, and technologies related to sustainable development. Thirteen of these were from countries that have achieved significant success in green transition, such as the UK, Norway, and Switzerland. Thirty spaces were dedicated to domestic green initiatives. The Netherlands – a pioneer in the circular economy transition – alone had 50 booths introducing new green technologies and renewable energy.

According to Alain Cany, co-chair of the GEFE organizing committee and chairman of the EuroCham Vietnam advisory board, with the theme "Building a Green Future," this year's GEFE aims to promote innovation, economic growth, and sustainability. This also marks the first time the EU has had such close cooperation, not only within the EU community but also beyond, with activities involving several non-EU countries such as Switzerland, Norway, and the United Kingdom.

The event will take place over three days, from October 21st to 23rd, at Thiso Mall Sala (10 Mai Chi Tho Street, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City).

Within the framework of the 2024 Green Economy Forum and Exhibition, the Trade Promotion Agency organized a Vietnamese pavilion with the participation of 24 multi-sector Vietnamese enterprises to introduce and showcase advanced technologies, high-quality products, initiatives, and green and circular economy models. In addition, to support Vietnamese businesses in directly accessing leading European corporations and enterprises in various fields, the Ministry of Industry and Trade organized a business-to-business (B2B) conference between Vietnamese and European businesses.

This is a great opportunity to strengthen cooperation between the European and Vietnamese business communities, contributing to promoting a green and sustainable Vietnamese economy through the sharing of initiatives, ideas, and technology transfer.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/khai-mac-dien-dan-va-trien-lam-kinh-te-xanh-gefe-2024-kien-tao-tuong-lai-xanh-353680.html