Standard Chartered Vietnam and British Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (Britcham) have signed a partnership agreement to promote sustainable development in Vietnam and the application of ESG among businesses. 

The first webinar of a series related to ESG and sustainability. Photo: Britcham

The first activity of the cooperation is the launch of a series of six webinars on topical matters related to ESG and sustainability. This will support participating businesses and organizations devise effective strategies for their sustainable development. 

The first webinar of sustainability series themed “Carbon markets and their role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, perspectives from Vietnam and Global” will take place on September 28.

These events will involve key relevant stakeholders from the government, regulators and industry leaders. 

Michele Wee, CEO for Vietnam at Standard Chartered Bank, said: "Adopting a sustainability mindset and ESG in their investments and operations will help businesses create long-term, resilient growth, which will then translate into social, environmental and economic benefits for Vietnam. We need to accelerate investor education to achieve progress and make a difference.” 

“We aim to help emerging markets and Vietnam to reduce carbon emissions as fast as possible, without slowing development, putting the world on a sustainable path to net-zero by 2050. We want to support and mobilize finance needed to provide people with clean energy, drive carbon-free transport and facilitate the decarbonizing of the manufacturing industry.”

Denzel Eades, Britcham's Board Member said: “The governments of Vietnam and the UK have both recognized the strategic importance of sustainability in their development agenda. So have Britcham member businesses.”

The webinar series is a further step in their efforts to promote sustainable development in Vietnam by providing their members the latest insights on the global practices and local environment as it comes to sustainability and ESG, he added.

In the run up to COP26 in Glasgow, the working group will be coordinating BritCham’s engagement with programs led by the UK Department for International Trade to facilitate its members’ participation in the Race to Zero campaign and involvement in the SME Climate Hub. The sustainability webinar series hosted by Britcham and Standard Chartered Vietnam will be an important component of these programs.

BritCham has established the Sustainability Working Group, which aims to support the ESG initiatives of its members.