Overseas Vietnamese Join Hands With the Country In Green Investment
	Asia House: Vietnam's Economy Will Achieve Outstanding Achievements in 2024

Standardizing Green Technology and Standards

In a keynote report, Luong Quang Huy, Head of the Division for Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction and Ozone Layer Protection under the Department of Climate Change, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, stated that promoting the green economy and circular economy has become one of Vietnam’s strategic priorities in its sustainable development process.

Luong Quang Huy emphasized that Vietnam aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, considering this a long-term and overarching direction throughout its policy-making processes. Vietnam has also joined the Global Methane Pledge, targeting a 30% reduction in methane emissions compared to 2020 levels.

According to him, implementing these commitments is not only an international obligation but also an opportunity for Vietnam to accelerate its transformation of the growth model, promote clean production, advance green technologies, and develop a circular economy. This is an inevitable direction to enhance the competitiveness of the economy and meet increasingly stringent requirements from international markets, especially amid the growing trend of “greening” supply chains.

The green economy and circular economy are not only goals but also drivers for enterprises to innovate, use resources more efficiently, and minimize environmental impacts. This brings practical benefits to enterprises, citizens, and the economy as a whole.

The first discussion session assessed the current situation, outcomes, and effective models that could be scaled up to promote the development of the green economy, circular economy, and sustainable environmental protection. (Photo: Đinh Hoa)

According to reports presented at the first session, over the past five years, foreign NGOs have implemented numerous projects promoting the green economy and circular economy. Five key groups of results have been recognized: developing sustainable agriculture and green livelihoods; promoting circular economic models and pollution reduction; managing natural resources and conserving biodiversity; strengthening capacities and Measurement, Reporting, Verification (MRV) systems for emission management; and fostering public-private-community cooperation. These outcomes not only bring direct benefits to localities during implementation but also create an important foundation for the agricultural and forestry sectors to transition toward sustainable green and circular models.

Le Ha Luan, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Dong Thap Province, said that although Dong Thap is one of the leading localities in transitioning to green agriculture, the process still faces many challenges. According to him, the biggest barrier lies in the small and fragmented scale of production, which makes it difficult to organize synchronized production to meet market and enterprise standards. In addition, the domestic green consumer market remains limited, preventing farmers from receiving prices that reflect the higher costs incurred when adopting green production processes.

To replicate effective models, Le Ha Luan stressed the need for the alignment of all stakeholders in the value chain, from enterprises, cooperatives, and farmers to local and central authorities. Enterprises must convey market signals and create momentum for green consumption; cooperatives should play a role in organizing large-scale production; and local and central governments must improve policies on land consolidation, green credit, and carbon credit markets.

During the discussion, Nguyen Quang Tan, Country Representative of ICRAF in Vietnam, said that efforts should focus on three key issues: bridging the gap between pilot models and national policies, as many effective village- and commune-level models are yet to be integrated into national target programs or sectoral strategies due to a lack of unified mechanisms or large-scale evidence; strengthening public-private cooperation, as deeper enterprise participation in sustainable agricultural models will enable the market to become a key driver for natural and sustainable model expansion; and recognizing the importance of data systems and MRV in developing low-carbon agricultural models.

Bui Le Vinh, Head of the Climate Change Division at the Green Growth Research Institute, Vietnam Academy of Agriculture, stated that one of the major current obstacles is the lack of consistency in green standards and technologies across programs and projects. Each international organization often uses its own methodologies and standards, causing difficulties in data consolidation or formulating national-level policy recommendations. Accordingly, Bui Le Vinh emphasized the importance of mechanisms that encourage enterprises to invest in green agriculture, especially given the typically high initial investment costs; enhancing the capacity of local officials to ensure consistent and proper implementation of technical processes; and strengthening applied research, particularly on emission reduction models suitable to the specific natural, economic, and social conditions of each region.

Mobilizing Resources for Sustainable Development

The second discussion session focused on forecasting trends, future developments, and recommendations. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

At the second session, Tran Cong Thang, President of the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, stated that the agricultural sector is oriented toward two key objectives: maintaining growth and ensuring sustainable development. For the 2026-2030 period, major policies are expected to center on “green” development, such as the project on one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice in the Mekong Delta and emission reduction plans for the crop production sector.

Tran Cong Thang emphasized that restructuring the sector, transitioning to high-value crops, promoting science and technology, processing agricultural by-products, and developing a circular economy will be crucial pillars. Effective implementation requires the coordinated participation of enterprises, farmers, and authorities at all levels.

Representing the private sector, Pham Thi Truc Thanh, Director of Sustainability at Heineken Vietnam, said that the company considers sustainability an integral part of its business strategy. According to her, the enterprise has implemented various models related to renewable energy use, water conservation, packaging recycling, and green supply chains, and hopes to continue expanding cooperation with international organizations and local authorities to enhance effectiveness.

However, Pham Thi Truc Thanh also stressed that businesses need a stable and consistent policy framework to make long-term investment decisions. Clear environmental standards, transparent certification procedures, and appropriate incentive mechanisms will encourage enterprises to expand green production models, contributing to the Government’s overall efforts to reduce emissions and fulfill international commitments.

Representing the NGO sector, Ha Thi Quynh Nga, Business Development Director of CARE International in Vietnam, said that CARE has participated in many programs related to livelihoods, climate change adaptation, emission reduction, and supporting women in agricultural production. She appreciated Vietnam’s adoption of clear policies on low emissions and the circular economy, which creates favorable conditions for international organizations to expand their models and collaborate with local communities.

According to her, the next phase requires strengthening livelihood support at the grassroots level, especially in vulnerable communities. International organizations hope to continue receiving support from ministries and relevant agencies to resolve institutional obstacles and expand access to financial sources, particularly green finance, thereby scaling up sustainable agricultural models in practice.

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