(MPI) - The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in Ho Chi Minh city on April 11 organised the project closing workshop on Eco-industrial park intervention in Vietnam - perspective from global eco-industrial parks programme, funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

At the project closing workshop. Photo: MPI

Vietnam has established a system of industrial zones (IZs) across 61 provinces and cities nationwide with 422 IZs. Summarising over 30 years of construction and development of IZs in Vietnam, it was known that IZs are key areas attracting domestic and foreign investment projects, and are the destination for many leading global corporations, contributing positively to industrial development and the socio-economic development of localities and the country.

Speaking at the seminar, Le Thanh Quan, Director of MPI’s Economic Zones Management Department mentioned that with the support of SECO, UNIDO, other international organisations, and local authorities, business community, the eco-industrial park (EIP) model has been institutionalised in legal documents with the highest level are Government Decrees (previously Decree 82/2018/ND-CP and currently Decree No. 35/2022/ND-CP).

EIP is integrated into many important national policies on sustainable production and consumption, green growth, circular economy development, and is continuing to be perfected. This is an important result, laying the foundation for the implementation of transforming and developing new IZs according to EIP model in Vietnam, he said.

Le Thi Thanh Thao, UNIDO Country Representative in Vietnam, spoke highly of Vietnam’s commitment in developing EIPs, as well as the active participation of ministries, localities, management boards of industrial and economic zones and investors in the project. The economic, environmental, and social benefits from the project will contribute significantly to expanding EIP model in Vietnam, towards a more comprehensive and sustainable industrial development.

Sibylle Bachmann, Head of Development Cooperation Agency, Embassy of Switzerland in Vietnam said that the project will facilitate sustainable and prosperous industrial development. The Swiss Government will continue to support Vietnam, through UNIDO in eealising green economic policies.

From 2020 to 2024, MPI collaborated with UNIDO to implement the “Eco-industrial park intervention in Vietnam - perspective from global eco-industrial parks” programme with a total budget of about 1.8 million USD, funded by SECO, in 5 provinces and cities, including: Ho Chi Minh city, Can Tho, Dong Nai, Da Nang, and Hai Phong, specifically in industrial zones: Hiep Phuoc, Amata - Bien Hoa, Dinh Vu (Deep C), Hoa Khanh, and Tra Noc 1&2.

The project aims to enhance the economic, environmental, and social efficiency of the industrial sector, and integrate regulations for developing the eco-industrial park model in related mechanisms and policies.

The MPI cooperates with the UNIDO to pilot eco-industrial park model with 603 resource efficient and cleaner production (RECP) solutions, of which 217 solutions have been implemented by 88 enterprises, saving 69.2 billion VND per year (2.9 million USD) through reduced energy, resource, and material consumption, reducing 8,910 tons of CO2 per year. The initial transition to eco-industrial park model has brought about economic, social, and environmental effects while mobilising significant resources from the private sector for green industrial solutions, ensuring energy security, sustainable development, and climate change adaptation./.

Bao Linh

Ministry of Planning and Investment