Enterprises are the 'nucleus' for Vietnam to move towards sustainable development

ESG is becoming a 'green passport' for businesses on the path of integration. Businesses can only develop sustainably if they consider sustainable development as part of their business strategy.

Mr. John Ditty, Deputy General Director of KPMG Vietnam, presented a speech on sustainable development at the forum on September 16 - Photo: TRUONG LINH

On September 16, the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) in collaboration with KPMG Vietnam and Merck Healthcare Vietnam organized a business forum with the theme "Leadership with vision - Sharing experiences in sustainable development and corporate responsibility" .

At the forum, many experts and the business community focused on discussing ESG (environment - society - governance) trends, while sharing practical experiences and affirming the role of businesses in Vietnam's sustainable development journey.

There is still a gap in awareness about sustainable development.

Ms. Truong Hanh Linh - Head of Sustainable Development Consulting Services, KPMG Vietnam, said that one of the major challenges today is the gap in awareness and knowledge related to ESG.

KPMG’s survey found that 71% of businesses have little knowledge or experience in ESG and only 24% have received formal training. This makes it difficult to put government policies and guidelines into practice, especially in terms of infrastructure, people and technology.

"Currently, the staff in charge of sustainable development work at enterprises are mostly part-time staff with limited or outdated capacity and understanding of standards and guidance frameworks, while regulations and frameworks around the world are increasingly numerous and more complex," Ms. Linh shared.

According to Ms. Linh, to overcome this, businesses need to proactively learn about ESG policies and regulations through dialogue with the Government and associations. At the same time, attract the participation of relevant parties in the policy adjustment process, as well as expand access to green finance sources that are still limited.

She stressed that ESG needs to be integrated into every function of the business and prioritized at the highest level. Investing in digital infrastructure and transparent data systems, as well as improving internal capabilities, will help businesses both meet requirements and create a competitive advantage.

From another perspective, Mr. John Ditty, Deputy General Director of KPMG Vietnam, warned that Vietnamese businesses could be passive if they only wait for domestic policies. "Foreign markets will not stop to wait for us. Businesses need to grasp what is happening outside and proactively adapt," he said.

Instead of worrying too much about complicated standards, businesses - especially small and medium-sized companies - should start by identifying key issues, taking specific actions, measuring results and being transparent through annual reports, Mr. Ditty noted.

"If businesses view ESG as a separate project, it will be difficult to get the necessary connection and support. Instead, ESG needs to be 'what we do' every day," he emphasized.

Sustainable development is the driving force for long-term development.

In practice, General Director of Merck Healthcare Vietnam - Ms. Ghislaine Dondellinger, said that this enterprise is currently implementing the 3R program (Reduce - Reuse - Recycle) to reduce water and paper consumption in operations.

At the same time, Ms. Dondellinger believes that besides the environment, the human factor (personnel) should be the focus of development of any business.

She emphasized that focusing on building a diverse and inclusive corporate culture and supporting employees to develop their maximum capacity also helps businesses achieve specific goals, from supply chains to energy use, all linked to sustainable development.

Speaking at the forum, Ms. Delphine Rousselet - Executive Director of EuroCham Vietnam, affirmed that the spillover effects of sustainable development go beyond the scope of the business community.

"When ESG is integrated into the strategy, this can be seen as Vietnam's international competitive advantage, strengthening investor confidence and increasing social consensus," she said.

Therefore, Ms. Rousselet believes that businesses are not only economic entities, but also partners in solving environmental and social challenges.

With 1,400 member businesses across many sectors, EuroCham is committed to continuing to accompany Vietnam, making sustainable development and corporate responsibility an important hallmark in the Europe-Vietnam partnership for decades to come.

Truong Linh

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/doanh-nghiep-la-hat-nhan-de-viet-nam-huong-toi-phat-trien-ben-vung-20250916134725362.htm