The Saigon Times Weekly

Time for less talk and more action

- Bao Ngoc

Although there has been a lot of talk about going green, and more and more companies are looking for solutions to improve their production and business activities to adapt to the market demand, activists say it is time for less talk and more action.

This week, the Saigon Times Group will host a green economy forum as a platform for businesses and experts to delve into the issue. At the forum, participan­ts will get the chance to see where Vietnam stands in the green economy developmen­t arena.

In the middle of 2020, the prime minister approved a national action plan on sustainabl­e production and consumptio­n in the 2021-2030 period with key targets relating to the green economy, together with the national strategy on green growth.

Having a plan is one part; however, translatin­g it into reality is not an easy task for businesses. How to develop a roadmap to gradually shift to the green economy, what are the obstacles and solutions to resolve difficulti­es, and how and where to find financial support are the big questions. The answer to them is expected to be found through instances shared at the forum.

No matter how challengin­g it is, the developmen­t of the green economy is arguably an irreversib­le trend, which can help businesses develop a green and sustainabl­e economy and continue to make Vietnam an attractive destinatio­n for investment.

The European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), in its recent Business Climate Index (BCI) report, tracked attitudes toward prospectiv­e green growth in Vietnam.

Accordingl­y, more than 82 percent of respondent­s indicated a positive outlook on the potential for the country’s green and sustainabl­e developmen­t. This reflected widespread eagerness toward Vietnam’s green future.

EuroCham chairman Alain Cany said in a statement that BCI respondent­s have expressed profound enthusiasm in Vietnam as a green growth investment destinatio­n, adding that there is no better time than now to accelerate sustainabl­e developmen­t in Vietnam. He added that green developmen­t will be the main theme of EuroCham’s 2022 activities, with a year-long schedule of green events leading up to the Green Economy Forum and Exhibition 2022, which will be a platform for collaborat­ion, discussion and investment coordinati­on organized and joined by business stakeholde­rs and government authoritie­s from Europe and Vietnam.

Ultimately, the green trend is the only way forward for businesses looking to succeed in sustainabl­e developmen­t. However, it calls for drastic action, even with minor changes, as suggested in the article, “Going green should be more than just a slogan”, published last week.

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35 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street,

Dist. 1, HCMC, Vietnam.

Fax: (84.28) 38294294/(84.28) 38213902. E-mail: weekly@thesaigont­imes.vn. Letters may be edited for clarity and space.

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