Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) held a ceremony in Hanoi on December 5 to honour the 100 sustainable companies across manufacturing and trade – services.
Themed "A New Chapter of the Green Era", the event marked a decade of promoting the sustainable development model within the business community, helping to position the role of sustainable companies as a new ecosystem driving Vietnam’s green economic growth.
Sustainability seen as global competitive advantage
Launched in 2016, the Corporate Sustainability Index (CSI) programme evaluates businesses across the economic, environmental, social, and governance pillars. This framework serves as a key source of reference for the programme’s steering committee, including ministries and central agencies, to assess responsible business practices.
Addressing the event, VCCI President and head of the CSI 2025 steering committee Ho Sy Hung noted that in the long journey of Vietnamese businesses, the link between “development” and “responsibility” has never been stronger than it is today.
He stressed that after the first 10 years, CSI will be elevated from a recognition programme to a transformation driver, becoming an ecosystem that promotes sustainability in businesses.
Regarding the post-COP30 context and strategic vision, Hung stated Vietnam has no other choice than innovating, pursuing green transformation, and treating sustainable development not merely as a slogan but as a vital strategy. He warned that businesses must change or risk being left behind.
Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc commended VCCI for releasing the CSI and running it for 10 consecutive years. He said companies must undergo fundamental transformation to proactively contribute to the country’s fast and sustainable development.
He urged a shift in the business mindset from the top executives to each unit in a company while asking for persistently and creatively building strategies and implementing responsible and sustainable business models to gain competitive advantages and momentum in the global market.
As head of the National Council for Sustainable Development, the Deputy PM also recommended that businesses should proactively improve corporate governance, transparency, and accountability by applying the CSI to widen their access to green finance sources and seize emerging opportunities from the green market and responsible consumption trends.
Tool for building green ecosystem
In 2025, the CSI programme attracted more than 500 businesses of various types and sizes nationwide to submit applications, of them 147 shortlisted for official scoring. Remarkably, over 20% of this year’s participants were first-time entrants, and around 30% were listed companies in the stock market – the highest number to date.
With CSI 2025 issuing its first index version exclusively for micro and small enterprises – alongside the existing version for medium and large firms, the programme saw strong engagement from the new group, and for the first time, micro and small enterprises were recognised in the top 100.
Regarding technology, the organiser applied artificial intelligence (AI) to the submission and evaluation software, making it easier for businesses to access information and participate in.
As many as 60 % of the top 10 sustainable enterprises in the manufacturing and trade – services sectors are domestic firms, indicating that the “sustainability playground” is no longer dominated by FDI firms with strong governance foundations as domestic businesses have made significant strides in adopting sustainable governance.
In addition to the main categories, the programme also honoured pioneering companies in promoting the circular economy and greenhouse gas emission reduction, as well as outstanding corporate governance.
The organiser also awarded the “CSI Star” trophy to 11 companies named in the Top 10 Sustainable Companies for five consecutive years or more, in recognition of their consistent strategies and commitment to sustainable development.
Dao Thuy Ha, General Director of the Traphaco JSC – one of the “CSI Star” recipients, said the CSI covers all activities of a business, helping her company to regularly assess whether its strategy is sustainable or appropriate.
Ha described the index as a mirror helping businesses to reflect on their operations to build better strategies.
Echoing the view that sustainable development must be a core strategy, Binu Jacob, CEO of Nestlé Vietnam and Co-Chair of the VCCI’s Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD), highlighted the role of FDI firms in promoting good practices.
As Vietnam aims to become a green-growth-oriented developed country, Nestlé remains a strategic partner, striving to ensure all business activities are linked with social responsibility, environmental protection, and the nation’s sustainable future, he stated.
Nestlé Vietnam has led the way in promoting good practices based on the CSI, collaborating with the VBCSD to provide training courses, sharing ESG (environmental, social, and governance) knowledge, and offering guidance to companies across its supply chain, Jacob said./.
