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| Ho Chi Minh City has been choosing a different approach and way of thinking for more than a year of recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, including green development. Illustrative photo. |
Despite the outstanding growth of 5.87% in the second quarter of 2023, after only increasing by 0.7% in the first quarter, the city's economy is still facing many difficulties and challenges due to the lack of new growth drivers. In addition, increasing problems such as environmental pollution, flooding, air pollution, etc. also affect the quality of growth.
In that context, the green transformation is identified by Ho Chi Minh City leaders as a growth driver in the coming period. This not only supports the city towards sustainable development but also contributes to the Government's commitment to achieving the goal of net zero emissions by 2050.
New growth drivers
According to Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai, with the internal problems the City is facing such as decreasing growth momentum, climate change... if there is no green transformation, no specific long-term policies, Ho Chi Minh City's economy will certainly not have new competitiveness, and cannot contribute well to the national economy. Along with the above awareness, Ho Chi Minh City determines its mission as a leading locality, taking on the biggest tasks in green transformation, sustainable development, contributing to the implementation of national commitments in international cooperation.
At the end of 2022, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 31-NQ/TW on the direction and tasks of developing Ho Chi Minh City to 2030, with a vision to 2045, and recently the National Assembly issued Resolution 98/2023/QH15.
In particular, Resolution 98/2023/QH15 officially took effect from the beginning of August 2023, opening up a number of specific mechanisms to support Ho Chi Minh City in the green transition process; in which, the City is allowed to develop rooftop solar power on public buildings (hospitals, schools, etc.); attract strategic investors in renewable energy and green energy projects; pilot financial mechanisms for carbon credit exchange and offset, etc.
Dr. Truong Minh Huy Vu, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies, said that the group of policies on green economy and green transformation is one of the notable new points in Resolution 98/2023/QH15. This is also a group of policies that he and the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies are very fond of and want to promote to create new growth momentum for the City in the coming period.
Ho Chi Minh City has grown rapidly over the past 10 years, but the growth rate is no longer as expected at double digits. Therefore, the City has been choosing a different approach, a different way of thinking in more than a year of recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic; including the direction of green development.
Currently, the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies and the Institute for Circular Economic Development (ICED) under the Ho Chi Minh City National University are developing a roadmap for green economic development for the City. Accordingly, the Project on industrial development orientation of Ho Chi Minh City to 2030, proposed by the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies, also determined to pilot the conversion of 5/17 industrial parks towards emphasizing green elements.
In addition, Ho Chi Minh City is piloting a program to build the Can Gio area into a typical net-zero (carbon neutral) urban area by 2030. This is expected to create new growth momentum for the city after a period of stagnation; at the same time, it contributes to the implementation of national commitments in international cooperation.
| Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum (HEF) 2023 revolves around topics such as: Green growth and circular economy development trends for megacities such as Ho Chi Minh City; Building an ecosystem of a circular economic model in the context of aiming for zero emission reduction; Policies in building green growth towards the goal of zero emission reduction and the mission of enterprises; Resources in developing a circular economy towards the goal of zero emission reduction and the mission of enterprises; International lessons and experiences in promoting green growth and circular economy; Current situation of Ho Chi Minh City and solutions in the process of applying the green growth model. |
Moving from awareness to action
Following the success of the Forums in 2018, 2019, 2022, Ho Chi Minh City continues to organize the 4th Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum in 2023 (HEF 2023) with the theme "Green Growth - Journey towards net zero emissions" from September 13-17.
Through this Forum, Ho Chi Minh City aims to find feasible solutions to promote green development and circular economy in the city in particular and the country in general. At the same time, this is also an opportunity for the City to meet and exchange with international ministries, sectors and localities to deepen the relationship between Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and international friends, proposing specific short, medium and long-term cooperation.
Along with the Forum, the City wishes to be a gathering place for large domestic and international enterprises and corporations interested in investing and developing Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam, thereby sending out the message "Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam always welcomes you".
In the green growth strategy in the area, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City determined that the decisive force for the success of green transformation is enterprises. To build and develop a green economy in Ho Chi Minh City requires great resources and determination from all parties, especially the coordination of agencies and enterprises, including both state-owned enterprises and the private sector.
Therefore, solutions, policies to support businesses as well as recommendations for the green transformation process in Ho Chi Minh City are expected to be discussed by management agencies and experts in the HEF 2023 event series. The solutions will aim to support businesses in accessing green finance to transform production, access markets and develop sustainably.
According to Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Vo Van Hoan, the choice of this year's Forum theme is consistent with the City's orientation in implementing the Government's goals as committed at the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 26). The content of the Forum demonstrates the City's goals and efforts towards green growth to meet the world's demands in the new situation.
As a major economic center, the economic locomotive of the whole country, it requires a change in awareness and new knowledge in the entire political system, businesses and people about green economy and green growth in order to have appropriate solutions and actions for the sustainable growth of the City.
“Green growth and green economy are inevitable trends of the global economy, so the City itself and the business community will have to change from awareness to action to integrate and adapt to that trend. Therefore, through HEF 2023, the leaders of Ho Chi Minh City will also convey a strong message on this issue,” the Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City emphasized.
Within the framework of the Forum, there is a program "Bilateral economic cooperation between Vietnam and the Flanders Region - Kingdom of Belgium on building sustainable cities, adapting to climate conditions"; announcing the cooperation program between Ho Chi Minh City and the World Economic Forum (WEF); a program for City leaders to meet with ministries, localities, international experts and the program "Connecting CEO 100 Tea Connect" between City leaders with VIP guests and 100 CEOs from Vietnam and abroad; talkshow program of domestic and international experts and speakers; direct exchange between international experts with students and businesses; tour program for international guests... The HEF 2023 event series also includes the Green Growth Products and Services Exhibition Space at Nguyen Hue Walking Street (officially open to residents and visitors from September 13-17); The "Green Enterprise" title award ceremony for City enterprises with projects, products, services or ideas that have been applying the green growth and sustainable development model. |
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