'HCMC is a good place to test green economic development policies'

Implement the 4 pillars

On the morning of September 15, the Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum 2023 with the theme "Green Growth - Journey towards net zero emissions" officially opened.

Speaking at the opening of the forum, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen shared that the city, along with many other cities in the world, has witnessed the impacts of climate change, along with the shortcomings that need to be resolved.

Accordingly, the traditional economic growth model is no longer the optimal choice. Therefore, Ho Chi Minh City has changed direction, creating a new journey, a green growth journey with a vision for a sustainable future.

Ho Chi Minh City Party Secretary Nguyen Van Nen speaks at the forum. Photo: Nguyen Hue

Secretary of the City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen informed that Ho Chi Minh City is urgently completing the green development strategy framework until 2030, with a vision to 2050, to build the city into a civilized, modern, and humane urban area, an attractive destination for investors and tourists.

The strategic framework places people at the center of digital transformation, promotes regional connectivity and international cooperation to implement four pillars: developing green resources, building green infrastructure, developing green behavior, and identifying pioneering industries and fields.

He affirmed that after the forum, the city will absorb opinions to complete the strategic framework and deploy an action framework with specific tasks and timelines.

In addition, Ho Chi Minh City is also implementing solutions to promote innovation, creativity and development, creating a favorable environment and opportunities for the business community to join hands in the green growth journey, towards net zero emissions reduction.

Without change, businesses will fall behind.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai, Ho Chi Minh City's choice of the theme "Green Growth - Journey towards net zero emissions" for this economic forum is very practical and meaningful, in line with the trend of sustainable development in the world.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that the forum, which brings together prestigious domestic and foreign experts, will bring new insights, good solutions, and valuable lessons to help Ho Chi Minh City effectively implement the Party and Government's guidelines, strategies, and policies on green growth and sustainable development.

He informed that the National Strategy and Action Plan on Green Growth have been issued by the Prime Minister with the goal of reducing emissions, greening economic sectors and inclusive development. The Circular Economy Development Project has also been approved.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai speaks at the forum. Photo: Nguyen Hue

However, to effectively implement major policies on sustainable development, in addition to political determination, it is necessary to have the understanding, support and cooperation of the people and business community.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, Ho Chi Minh City is the locality with the largest economic scale in the country, but also the locality with the largest total greenhouse gas emissions (57.6 million tons, accounting for 23.3% of the country).

Basically, the city's economy is still mainly developing in a linear economic direction and has not been greened; environmental protection has made much progress but there are still many problems and many things that need to be done more actively.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that Vietnam in general and Ho Chi Minh City in particular have just started implementing green economy, green growth and circular economy and do not have much experience. However, the forum has gathered experts, managers and leading CEOs in the world, which will be a great opportunity for localities to share and learn lessons, good policies and models.

Furthermore, green transformation and green growth create many new business opportunities but also require large resources, including:

Financially, so that businesses can invest in efficient green technologies, reduce production costs and waste treatment.

Regarding human resources, both knowledge and skills are key factors for businesses to be able to implement green economic ideas and solutions.

In terms of technology, it is a decisive factor for businesses to improve production efficiency, increase competitiveness, and minimize negative impacts on the environment.

Therefore, the Deputy Prime Minister said that the forum is just a warm-up, the actions that take place in reality will determine success. In which, the actions require interaction and coordination at many levels, from the central to local levels, from businesses to people.

“With its urban characteristics, population size, and economic dynamism, Ho Chi Minh City will be a very good place to test policies to promote green economy, circular economy, and green growth,” the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed.

For businesses, this is the best opportunity to rethink traditional business models and access new business opportunities.

“Delayed conversion will cause businesses to fall further behind in meeting the different needs for green growth that are increasingly popular in the world and in the domestic market,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

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