The third conference and exhibition on European environmental problemsand solutions, Green-Biz 2013, opened in Hanoi on September 19.
The two-day event, organised by the European Chamber of Commerce inVietnam (EuroCham), the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and theVietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, aimed to help the public andState stakeholders discover opportunities for green growth andinvestment.
EuroCham Vice Chairman David Championsaid it provides an opportunity for private and pubic dialogue and alsofor Vietnamese and European businesses to interact.
Nearly 100 high calibre speakers, including experts from the privatesector, academia, governments and independent institutions will takepart, together with about 70 European firms.
Theconference is not only focusing on traditional technical solutions forenergy efficiency and resources management but also on providing a greeneducation and encouraging a green mindset. This includes access tohealthcare, green consumption and production.
Champion said green production is important now that Vietnam is negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with the EU.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Cam Tu said theGovernment is aware of the challenges, including controlling the impactsof climate change, environmental pollution and wastage of energy.
"As the ministry manages most key industry sectors, it plans to makeindustrial production more advanced by using natural resources andenergy more efficiently, moving forwards a green economy," he said.
The Swedish Secretary for Trade, Gunnar Omm, said European companies,particularly Sweden , are at the cutting edge of green and cleantechnologies.
"We are looking for partnership withVietnamese companies," he said, noting that although Vietnam hasbecome a middle income country at an amazing speed, there are challengesahead as rapid economic growth often come at the cost of theenvironment, raising the need for measures to combine economic growthand sustainability.
Vietnam Chamber of Commerce andIndustry (VCCI) General Secretary Pham Thi Thu Hang said that technologyis the key to production and technology transfer from European toVietnamese companies. She said this could introduce waves of advancedtechnology and boost productivity.
She also said thatVietnamese enterprises need to be more active and creative in raisingtheir competitiveness as well as helping the country avoid themiddle-income trap.
At a September 19 conference ongreen consumption and green production, Frans Verspeek, team leader ofthe Switch Asia Network, said that barriers include lack of businessawareness about resources-efficient production and technical andmanagerial skills on clean technology plus poor access to financialservices for small- and medium-sized enterprises.
Hesaid there are also barriers shaping demand, including weakcommunication of products to consumers, low accessibility to sustainableproducts and services. And there are barriers against investment,including the low cost of non-compliance.
"To removethe barriers, access to information must be provided, skills must bedeveloped by businesses and networking on green finance set up bybusinesses and policy makers," Verspeek said.-VNA
The two-day event, organised by the European Chamber of Commerce inVietnam (EuroCham), the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and theVietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, aimed to help the public andState stakeholders discover opportunities for green growth andinvestment.
EuroCham Vice Chairman David Championsaid it provides an opportunity for private and pubic dialogue and alsofor Vietnamese and European businesses to interact.
Nearly 100 high calibre speakers, including experts from the privatesector, academia, governments and independent institutions will takepart, together with about 70 European firms.
Theconference is not only focusing on traditional technical solutions forenergy efficiency and resources management but also on providing a greeneducation and encouraging a green mindset. This includes access tohealthcare, green consumption and production.
Champion said green production is important now that Vietnam is negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with the EU.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Cam Tu said theGovernment is aware of the challenges, including controlling the impactsof climate change, environmental pollution and wastage of energy.
"As the ministry manages most key industry sectors, it plans to makeindustrial production more advanced by using natural resources andenergy more efficiently, moving forwards a green economy," he said.
The Swedish Secretary for Trade, Gunnar Omm, said European companies,particularly Sweden , are at the cutting edge of green and cleantechnologies.
"We are looking for partnership withVietnamese companies," he said, noting that although Vietnam hasbecome a middle income country at an amazing speed, there are challengesahead as rapid economic growth often come at the cost of theenvironment, raising the need for measures to combine economic growthand sustainability.
Vietnam Chamber of Commerce andIndustry (VCCI) General Secretary Pham Thi Thu Hang said that technologyis the key to production and technology transfer from European toVietnamese companies. She said this could introduce waves of advancedtechnology and boost productivity.
She also said thatVietnamese enterprises need to be more active and creative in raisingtheir competitiveness as well as helping the country avoid themiddle-income trap.
At a September 19 conference ongreen consumption and green production, Frans Verspeek, team leader ofthe Switch Asia Network, said that barriers include lack of businessawareness about resources-efficient production and technical andmanagerial skills on clean technology plus poor access to financialservices for small- and medium-sized enterprises.
Hesaid there are also barriers shaping demand, including weakcommunication of products to consumers, low accessibility to sustainableproducts and services. And there are barriers against investment,including the low cost of non-compliance.
"To removethe barriers, access to information must be provided, skills must bedeveloped by businesses and networking on green finance set up bybusinesses and policy makers," Verspeek said.-VNA
