Applying science and technology in building and developing a circular economy for Ho Chi Minh City

On December 26, the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City organized a scientific workshop on "Application of science and technology in building circular economic models to serve the socio-economic development of Ho Chi Minh City".

Applying science and technology in building and developing a circular economy for Ho Chi Minh City

The workshop aims to share experiences and propose priority directions for research, development, scientific and technological solutions, and policies in the field of circular economy in Ho Chi Minh City; form research and development links, and consult on the application of circular economic models between the State, enterprises, and institutes and schools in the circular economic ecosystem suitable to the conditions of Ho Chi Minh City.

Workshop to find solutions to support businesses in increasing product value, creating motivation for innovation activities, promoting economic restructuring...

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Hong Quan, Director of the Institute for Circular Economic Development Research (VNU-HCM), shared that green transformation is an inevitable need globally in general and in Vietnam in particular. This is a model of a circular economic production system, focusing on minimizing input materials, optimizing production, waste treatment, converting renewable energy... with the goal of creating a loop, optimally reusing products, and effective sustainable development. To effectively implement a circular economy, there needs to be a sharing platform between businesses, and the connection between the State, businesses, and schools and institutes needs to be closer.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Hong Quan also proposed solutions to develop a circular economy for Ho Chi Minh City such as: building a green innovation ecosystem (including the relationship between Ho Chi Minh City, the Central Highlands, the Southeast provinces and internationally); developing training programs for students and green entrepreneurs; building funding policies and supporting green technology transformation for groups of high-impact enterprises...

Mr. Le Thanh Minh, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City, said that innovation activities have made positive contributions to the city's economic development.

Mr. Le Thanh Minh, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City, said that in recent times, innovation activities in Ho Chi Minh City have made positive contributions to the city's economic development. In the period of 2016-2022, the city invested 13,657 billion VND in science and technology, accounting for more than 2.55% of the state budget. Of this, 4,628 billion VND was for science and technology and 9,028 billion VND for investment in science and technology development.

As a result, the total factor productivity (TFP) index increased sharply, reaching an average of 46.7%, with 74% of the contribution from science and technology. Ho Chi Minh City's labor productivity is twice as high as the national average, and labor productivity in high-tech enterprises is outstanding, 1.67 times higher than the city's average.

At the workshop, representatives of institutes, schools and businesses also proposed and commented on the drafts. Many opinions said that the circular economic models serving the socio-economic development of Ho Chi Minh City are still at the macro level, so there needs to be a more specific roadmap and model. Accordingly, Ho Chi Minh City needs to focus on raising awareness of the circular economy for everyone, especially lecturers and students; pay attention to training human resources. In addition, it is necessary to build facilities, have policies and mechanisms to support the conversion of circular economic resources, and have units to guide and support green conversion for businesses...

Mr. Huynh Phu, representative of the Institute of Environment and Circular Economy of Ho Chi Minh City, spoke at the workshop.

In the period of 2021-2025, Ho Chi Minh City always aims to build a smart and sustainable city, a locomotive of the national economy. However, applying a complete circular economy is currently a big challenge.

Through the workshop, the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City hopes to orient businesses, institutes and schools to realize the importance of the circular economy in the production process. At the same time, it hopes that researchers and scientists will propose more solutions to develop a sustainable circular economy for Ho Chi Minh City.

BUI TUAN

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