Green Industry Forum 2025: Harmonizing high growth and sustainable development goals

(Chinhphu.vn) - In the context of the global supply chain shifting towards green - clean - circular, Vietnam is facing the imperative of reshaping its industrial development strategy. Studies show that green industrial parks can help increase labor productivity by 15% - 25% thanks to the application of high technology, improving the working environment and attracting quality human resources. At the same time, this is a prerequisite for Vietnamese enterprises to continue participating in the global value chain.

Discussion session "Harmonizing high growth and sustainable development goals".

On July 9, in Hanoi, Vietnam Economic Times - VnEconomy Magazine organized the Green Industry Forum 2025 with the theme "Harmonizing high growth goals and sustainable development".

After more than three decades of industrialization, Vietnam has achieved impressive economic growth, with industry contributing about 35% of GDP and becoming the main driver of employment. However, this rapid development has also posed serious challenges in terms of environment and resource use.

Notably, while areas such as green energy and transport have begun to receive strong investment, green industry - which is the pillar of national production - has not yet been properly placed in the national strategy on green growth and the commitment to Net Zero by 2050.

In the context of the world economy having many fluctuations, the trend of green - sustainable transformation is also having unpredictable changes. In addition to the green growth target towards Net Zero by 2050, Vietnam has also set a double-digit growth target in 2025 and the following years.

To avoid missing out on this opportunity, Vietnam needs to restructure its industrial sector towards sustainability. Investing in green industry is not just an option, but a must if Vietnam wants to maintain rapid growth and stay relevant in the Net Zero era.

The Green Industry Forum 2025 is organized with four main objectives: Redefining the concept of green growth in industry, clarifying how to apply sustainable development principles to Vietnam's industrial production practices; In-depth analysis of conflicts and potential for harmony between high growth targets and sustainable development requirements, thereby finding a balanced path suitable to Vietnam's actual conditions; Proposing specific and feasible sustainable growth models for Vietnam's processing and manufacturing industry in the new period - In which the model of new-generation industrial parks is emerging as the most ideal circular infrastructure; Promoting close links between the Government , businesses, experts and international organizations to promote green industrial transformation in a practical and effective manner.

The Forum affirmed the view that Vietnam needs an industrial development strategy that ensures high growth rates while adhering to increasingly stringent sustainability standards. The solution is not a trade-off but a compromise – by applying green technology, optimizing resource use, innovating production models and building an effective industrial waste collection and recycling system.

In particular, the Forum will discuss redefining the concept of "sustainable development" according to a new approach that accepts the use of resources at an optimal, efficient and responsible level, linked to market mechanisms and creating room for long-term development.

The forum gathered more than 20 speakers representing the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Finance; Asian Development Bank (ADB), Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam (CCIFV); industry associations and leading enterprises such as: AMATA, KN Group, Panasonic, CNCTech, Garment 10 Corporation, Vietnam Steel Corporation, VietCycle, VERTZERO, JAPI Food...

Mr. Nguyen Ba Hung - Chief Economist of ADB in Vietnam shared at the Forum

Presenting a report on green growth, a no-trade-off approach at the Forum "Green Industry: Harmonizing high growth and sustainable development", Mr. Nguyen Ba Hung - ADB Chief Economist in Vietnam, shared: "We are living in an "era of growth". Green growth and sustainable growth are a great opportunity in that era. However, it is important to clearly understand how this opportunity is shaping up, as well as the challenges and risks that come with it".

According to Mr. Nguyen Ba Hung, international experience shows that many countries have achieved the target of economic growth while reducing emissions. This proves that achieving high growth and reducing emissions is not impossible.

The question is: Is Vietnam determined to join this trend? "I think that with the Government's issuance of the National Strategy on Green Growth, in terms of policy, we have clearly expressed our desire. However, to realize this desire, Vietnam needs to invest in green technology, transform its business model and adjust the growth model of the entire economy, from the enterprise level to the macro level," Mr. Hung stated his opinion.

To build an ecological industrial park, according to Mr. Do Quang Hung, First Deputy General Director of the Japan Industrial Park - Hai Phong, many criteria are needed, including circulation, industrial symbiosis... Therefore, Mr. Hung believes that policies need to be synchronous, attractive, and encourage industrial parks to register to participate in building ecological industrial parks.

Ms. Nguyen Phuong Nga - Deputy General Director of CNCTech Group, Deputy General Director of CNCTech Industrial Business said that more than 70% of CNCTech Group's partners are demanding markets with strict requirements on green standards, so this is a mandatory and vital requirement for CNCTech Group to affirm its position in the global supply chain.

According to Ms. Phuong Nga, green transformation is a prerequisite to attract high-quality investors from Europe and America, welcoming "eagles to nest". Therefore, there must be a smart green industrial park, a comprehensive ecological environment. The economic problem is whether green growth has a direct impact on the business's steps or not. From the experience of CNCTech Group, the company invests systematically in technology and infrastructure from the beginning and has a long-term, long-term vision that will save production costs later as well as meet the standards of partners.

"We see that green transformation is no longer about environmental responsibility but about affirming our position in the global supply chain," said Ms. Nga.

Dr. Bui Thanh Minh - Deputy Director of Department IV - Advisory Council for Administrative Procedure Reform of the Prime Minister said that the lesson for Vietnam in developing smart and sustainable industry is to have a consistent national industrial strategy, develop domestic enterprise capacity, develop industrial ecosystem and industrial policy in the digital age.

Diep Anh

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/dien-dan-cong-nghiep-xanh-2025-hai-hoa-muc-tieu-tang-truong-cao-va-phat-trien-ben-vung-102250709184609523.htm