Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son stressed the importance of the green economy in EU-Vietnam relations when he delivered a speech at the Green Economy Forum and Exhibition (GEFE) 2024 launched in Ho Chi Minh City on October 21 by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and EuroCham Vietnam. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son at the Green Economy Forum and Exhibition (GEFE) 2024 launched in Ho Chi Minh City on October 21. Photo: Minh Ngoc/VGP

He said Vietnam expects to receive more EU support in finance, technology, and human resource training. He requested the EU to share its experience in developing a carbon market associated with international ones.

He stated that the EU's pioneering efforts to build a green economy in Europe and globally serve as motivation and valuable experience for Vietnam to pursue its goal of achieving a sustainable and carbon-neutral economy by 2050.

“Green and sustainable development remains a common interest and commitment between Vietnam and the EU,” Bui Thanh Son highlighted.

In this regard, it is essential to deepen bilateral relations with a focus on economic development, particularly by making the green economy one of the breakthrough areas for cooperation.

Specifically, this means promoting sustainable trade and developing green supply chains by effectively implementing the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and accelerating the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

“We’re ready to work with the EU to implement green growth initiatives through experience sharing, mostly in reducing emissions in agriculture, developing renewable energy, and speeding up energy transition. At the same time, Vietnam is committed to promoting the implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) to make it an exemplary partnership model and become a catalyst for improving the EU-ASEAN relations,” the Deputy PM said at the opening ceremony.

He emphasized Vietnam's commitment to developing a green economy and actively engaging in global efforts to fight against climate change.

Themed “Building Green Futures”, the three-day GEFE 2024 will serve as a platform to strengthen collaboration between European and Vietnamese business communities, fostering a sustainable green economy in Vietnam through knowledge exchange and technology transfer initiatives.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Alain Cany, co-chairman of the organizing committee, stated that Vietnam was a crucial market for European investments, while Europe was a significant market for Vietnamese exports.

“It is only by working together and committing ourselves that we can succeed in the transformation that we all are striving for,” he highlighted.

Indeed, GEFE 2024 brings together key stakeholders from businesses, government, and non-governmental organizations from Europe and Vietnam to engage in productive discussions and promote sustainable practices, policies, and initiatives.

It will bring together experts in sustainable business and governance for three days of conferences, exhibitions, and high-level B2B and B2G dialogue sessions.

Of particular note is Student Day on October 23 – an entire day dedicated to helping the future generation of changemakers engage with the green future. This engaging program connects students from leading universities in Vietnam with entrepreneurs, experts, designers, and sustainability advocates in a collaborative open innovation environment.

Green Economy Forum and Exhibition (GEFE) 2024 takes place in Ho Chi Minh City on October 21-23. Photo: Embassy of Sweden in Hanoi

EU green models for Vietnam

The three-day exhibition features European innovations and sustainable solutions for Vietnam. The greenest initiatives come from Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland. 

Sweden showcases innovative green solutions at the Swedish Pavilion organized by the Embassy of Sweden and Business Sweden. The pavilion is designed to address Vietnam’s pressing needs in sustainability and the circular economy as outlined in the Prime Minister’s Decision 450/QD-TTg.

It helps explore valuable partnerships that can enhance Vietnam’s green initiatives through insights from industry experts and find practical solutions tailored to local challenges.

The pavilion, with a focus on renewable energy, reducing emissions, the circular economy, and new technologies, aims to help Vietnam enhance its global position and attract investment. 

Ambassador of Sweden to Vietnam Johan Ndisi speaks at the Swedish Pavilion at GEFE 2024. Photo: Embassy of Sweden in Hanoi

Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Johan Ndisi told The Hanoi Times: “The Swedish Pavilion shows our dedication to sustainability. We want to inspire deeper collaboration between Sweden and Vietnam for a greener future.”

Featuring key leading companies such as Atlas Copco, Ecolearn, Ericsson, H&M, Hitachi Energy, Husqvarna, and Trelleborg, the Swedish Pavilion is more than just an exhibition, it’s a space for collaboration to support Vietnam’s green transition, especially through the “Sweden-Vietnam Business Footprint,” highlighting the strong partnership between the two countries and the contributions of Swedish companies in Vietnam.

Meanwhile, the Norwegian Pavilion gathers eight leading companies presenting innovative and sustainable solutions that facilitate the green transition across various sectors.

Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Hilde Solbakken told The Hanoi Times that Norwegian companies have been working closely with Vietnamese partners to manage the green transition more circularly and sustainably.

As Vietnam faces the same basic issues as other countries in managing the green transition, “Norway has a lot of solutions, especially when it comes to ocean-based solutions,” she said, expressing her confidence in the certainty of investment from Norwegian companies.

“That certainty and predictability come with regulations, so we are looking forward to seeing the regulations in place,” she stressed. 

Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Johan Ndisiat at the exhibition. Photo: Embassy of Sweden in Hanoi

The Swiss Pavilion, organized by the Embassy of Switzerland in partnership with Switzerland Global Enterprise, demonstrates innovative solutions for Vietnam’s sustainable infrastructure and production, as well as the country’s transition to a green economy.

Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam Thomas Gass said the Swiss Pavilion “offers an excellent opportunity to explore how we can further contribute to Vietnam’s sustainable growth.” “Together with Swiss companies, I will be hosting a range of exciting activities and discussions,” he stated.

At GEFE 2024, four Swiss-funded projects namely the Swiss Import Promotion Program (SIPPO), the Swiss Tourism for Sustainable Development in Vietnam (ST4SD), the ILO Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work, and the Regional BioTrade project are highlighting their contributions to building a more sustainable and inclusive economy in Vietnam.

Thomas Gass revealed that these projects showcase the comprehensive solutions and the positive impact of our development cooperation. “Together, we can help Vietnam achieve its ambitious goals for a decarbonized economy and sustainable development by mid-century.”

In the meantime, the Dutch Pavilion has hosted a series of themed workshops on topics such as digital technology solutions for green logistics and connectivity, water technology, and saline agriculture.

The Consul General of the Netherlands in Ho Chi Minh City Daniel Coenraad Stork said that Vietnam and the Netherlands are strongly affected by climate change, and businesses from both countries have been working on key industries such as agriculture, water management, and logistics. Sectors of the potential partnership include emissions reduction and green finance.