Driving force for sustainable growth
Within the framework of the Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum, on the afternoon of September 14, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai chaired the program "CEO 100 Tea Connect", connecting leaders of corporations and managers from the world's leading countries, finding solutions for the city's green growth process.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Phan Van Mai informed that Ho Chi Minh City is a large city with over 10 million people, the economic, cultural, educational, scientific and technological center of Vietnam.
The city always strives to build a good living environment, convenient, safe and effective working environment for the people, businesses of the city and outside businesses coming to Ho Chi Minh City.
However, the city is also facing challenges such as climate change, traffic congestion, labor shortages, and the impact of cyclical economic development.
To cope with these challenges, Mr. Phan Van Mai said that the city is restructuring its economy, identifying green economy as the driving force for sustainable growth and development in the coming period.
“The city is very determined by researching and proposing a green development strategy framework and committing to fully allocate resources to move towards net zero by 2050 (net zero emissions),” affirmed the Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City.
Accordingly, in the green development strategy framework, the city identifies people and businesses as the center of transformation, while focusing on "four greens".
Firstly, green resources include highly qualified human resources, green finance and international cooperation.
Second, green infrastructure, including green energy conversion, clean water and water conservation, and resource recycling.
Third, green behavior in green consumption, transportation and green construction.
Fourth, the pioneering green transformation industries include: high-tech manufacturing, green startups, innovation, tourism, agriculture, green food and building Can Gio district into a green locality.
“We hope that organizations, experts, CEOs and people will continue to contribute ideas so that the city can complete the green strategy framework as soon as possible,” Mr. Phan Van Mai suggested.
Besides, Mr. Phan Van Mai also said that the city will aim to become a center for startups and innovation in the region.
Tax breaks for green businesses
At the meeting, the messages about green growth, green transformation, and circular economy were mentioned the most by delegates attending CEO 100 Tea Connect.
Mr. Ichisaka Hirofumi, Senior Executive Director of International Relations of Osaka Prefecture (Japan), shared that in the 1950s, Japan developed miraculously, but also brought with it serious pollution problems.
In 1973, Osaka Prefecture implemented the first business management model in Japan with clear regulations on environmental factors. Thanks to that, it maintained stable growth and pioneered in overcoming environmental pollution problems, achieving what it has today.
“But climate change, global warming, and mass production of plastic products threaten all of humanity and cannot be solved by a single province or country,” the representative said.
He believes that each country, each locality as well as Ho Chi Minh City has clearly recognized the importance of green growth, green transformation, and circular economy. He believes that Ho Chi Minh City connecting 100 CEOs to discuss green growth is a good way to inspire on this journey towards a green planet.
Mr. Ricardo Valente, City Councilor for Economy and Finance of Porto City (Portugal) shared that to effectively develop green growth, it is necessary to create a circular entrepreneurial spirit; set challenges for businesses to meet the requirements of the city, especially startups (water treatment, energy, etc.).
To do this, according to him, the government must build environmental indexes, green development indexes, etc. Enterprises with effective solutions will be selected and they will be exempted from taxes when meeting the given indexes.
Besides, there needs to be an organization to guide people to build green houses, meeting green criteria, environmental safety...
He also introduced the concept that local governments are the largest consumers in society. Therefore, they must pioneer the use of green products and create incentives for businesses to produce these products.
“If the state does not participate in this green consumption process, it cannot create momentum for society,” the representative from Portugal emphasized.
The CEOs also agreed that every country that is aware of and moves towards green growth will create a green planet for future generations.
Building Can Gio into a green city According to the head of the Ho Chi Minh City government, the city will pilot the construction of Can Gio district into a green urban area; be the pioneer locality in implementing the net zero target by 2035, 15 years ahead of Vietnam's international commitment. Specifically, focus on building Can Gio in the fields of green transportation, means of transportation in the area must use green fuel, green energy, and process waste into electricity to serve production and daily life needs. Building Can Gio without plastic emissions, developing green tourism and piloting Carbon credits with Can Gio forest become the potential and advantages of this locality. |
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