Gov’t to host national conference on sustainable development

The event is held by the National Council for Sustainable Development and Competitiveness Improvement in coordination with the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the World Bank.

The participants, including Government leaders and business representatives, are expected to to discuss aspects of sustainable development to help Viet Nam achieve the Agenda 2030 goals in the next decade.

The proposals of the conference will serve as input for the Government to design the 2021-2030 socio-economic development strategy.

“Circular economy” is considered the key to address the relation between growth and environmental protection, according to Nguyen Quang Vinh, VCCI Secretary-General and Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD).

Vinh said the economic model brings about not only economic profits but also social values and businesses need to join hands with the Government to build green economy.

The matter is that Viet Nam lacks legal regulations on circular economy and this requires stronger involvement of State agencies, Vinh added.

Founded in 2016, the VBCSD launched a program to support circular economy among businesses, starting from awareness improvement.

Last year, the VBCSD deployed the first project “Zero Waste to Nature” in Ho Chi Minh City with aim to address issues arising from plastic waste, build a road map to form and promote sustainable business models; develop a cyclical-oriented value chain as well as policy recommendations to facilitate the rollout of the circular economy in Viet Nam. 

Vinh said the initiative will be expanded to Ha Noi capital and the central city of Da Nang in the coming time.

He suggested that Viet Nam need to review legal regulations on support for businesses to implement circular economy and work towards the adoption of a law on circular economy./.

By Quang Minh