Green and sustainable growth is not only a trend but also a prerequisite.

On the morning of December 4, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Industry and Trade organized the Vietnam Export Promotion Forum 2024 with the theme "Promoting green exports".

Green transition requires a coordinated strategy

The forum was attended by Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan, Swiss Embassy in Vietnam Andri Meier, representatives of the European Union in Vietnam, representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, domestic and foreign organizations, and the business community.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan said that sustainable development has become a trend of the times, guiding the development strategy of each country. In particular, sustainable economic development is considered a fundamental pillar, a premise for implementing social development and environmental protection.

The Deputy Minister emphasized: "Green and sustainable growth is not only an inevitable trend but has become a prerequisite to maintain competitiveness and ensure long-term development of economies."

Specifically, according to Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan, important policies such as the European Green Deal, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the Circular Economy Action Plan or the Biodiversity Strategy to 2030 are having a great influence on the growth method, economic cooperation, trade and investment in the world.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan. Photo: PC

“These policies not only focus on emission reduction targets but also set stricter standards on social responsibility and environmental protection, requiring exporting countries to change their production methods and approaches to meet increasingly high requirements,” said Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan.

Assessing export opportunities, Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan said that Vietnam, with its existing potential and advantages, is facing many great opportunities to become an important link in the global supply chain, especially in the field of exporting green and sustainable goods, promoting investment in renewable energy, cleaner production, digital economy, and circular economy.

Accordingly, Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan set out the requirement: "Preparing Vietnam's export goods to effectively adapt to sustainable standards is vital to the Vietnamese economy."

Delegates attending the forum. Photo: PC

“Seizing this opportunity will not only help Vietnam meet the requirements of the international market but also contribute to enhancing the national position, realizing the commitment to contribute to global sustainable development goals. This transformation requires a synchronous strategy, including the Government's orientation through incentive and support mechanisms and policies, the proactiveness of enterprises in investing in implementing green transformation solutions and the spirit of cooperation among relevant parties,” said Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan believes that the forum will contribute to building a strong green business community, creating sustainable value for Vietnam's export products in the international market.

Switzerland pledges to support Vietnam in its greening roadmap

Also sharing at the forum, on the Swiss side, Mr. Andri Meier - Swiss Embassy in Vietnam - said that in the context of international trade changing very quickly and facing environmental challenges, sustainability is not a choice or a requirement but something we need to do as quickly as possible.

"Currently, customers, businesses and governments have given more priority to products and services that go hand in hand with social and environmental sustainability. We are aiming to strengthen the capacity of the business community to grow sustainably, in line with the needs of the global economy," said Mr. Andri Meier.

Mr. Andri Meier - Swiss Embassy in Vietnam - speaking at the forum. Photo: D.N

According to Mr. Meier, Vietnam is a dynamic economy with a great spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, and a strong commitment to sustainable development. The Government, ministries, sectors and businesses are also making continuous efforts to promote green transformation.

"This is not only a challenge, but also a great opportunity and we can strengthen the capacity of Vietnamese enterprises to create a job platform for the people," said Mr. Andri Meier.

Emphasizing the bilateral cooperation relationship, according to Mr. Andri Meier, by working together and through strengthening partnership relations, mobilizing resources and a strong commitment to sustainability, Switzerland is committed to supporting Vietnam in this roadmap.

"We are preparing for the economic development cooperation framework with Vietnam for the period 2025 - 2028. This program will be implemented by the end of 2025. The main objective of this development cooperation is to support Vietnam in a roadmap towards a high-income, more resilient economy" - the Swiss Embassy in Vietnam shared.

Delegates share at the Vietnam Export Promotion Forum 2024. Photo: PC

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in order to concretize the orientations and goals of sustainable development, in recent years, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has maintained the organization of the annual Export Promotion Forum with the key theme "Promoting green exports".

The forum aims to create a dialogue channel and consult with many stakeholders from domestic and international organizations and experts to shape and identify problems, difficulties and opportunities in green trade development, propose solutions and support policies for green trade; shape towards standardizing green supply chains, identify and propose solutions and support policies in implementing green export promotion initiatives.

The forum also provides time for associations and businesses to share their industry's practical experiences in green transformation, digital transformation, implementing circular economic chain models, developing sustainable exports, and responding to global green consumption trends.

Building on the results of previous forums, the 2024 Export Promotion Forum focuses on discussing ideas, solutions and methods to support Vietnamese businesses in improving production capacity, innovating technology, and improving supply chains according to green and sustainable criteria. The opinions contributed at the forum are an important source of information, helping the Ministry of Industry and Trade to develop policies and plans to effectively support businesses.

At the same time, this will be the basis for orienting industry associations and businesses in implementing trade promotion activities suitable to the new context, ensuring compliance with global trends in sustainable trade and green economic development.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/tang-truong-xanh-va-ben-vung-khong-chi-la-xu-huong-ma-tro-thanh-dieu-kien-tien-quyet-362372.html