(MPI) - The 2023 Vietnam Business Forum (VBF), theme Business Community in Partnership with Government of Vietnam in Fostering Green Growth”, opened in Hanoi on March 17 under the co-chair of Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, Country Director of the World Bank (WB) in Vietnam Carolyn Turk, and Country Manager of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Vietnam Thomas Jacobs.
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Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung delivers his opening remarks. Photo: MPI |
In his opening remarks, MPI Minister Nguyen Chi Dung said, Vietnam’s economic scale exceeded 400 billion USD for the first time last year with a growth rate of 8.02%, and GDP per capita hit more than 4,000 USD. Total social investment capital reached nearly 3.22 quadrillion VND, up 11.5 percent year-on-year; the foreign direct investment disbursement was estimated at 22.4 billion USD, making the highest amount in the past five years.
The total import-export revenue hit a record of 732 billion USD, making Vietnam enter the top 20 in terms of trade growth worldwide. The country enjoys a trade surplus of 11.2 billion USD for seven years in row.
Vietnam’s business and investment climate is improved significantly, business development flourishes with 208,300 enterprises newly-establishing and resuming operations, an increase of 30% year-on-year.
According to the minister, green growth and sustainable development are considered top priorities and goals of all countries, aiming to reap prosperous economy, sustainable environment and equal society, towards the targets of green economy, carbon neutrality and global warming fight.
For Vietnam, green growth is both inevitable choice and opportunity to become a pioneer in the region and catch up with the global development, he said.
Recent years has witnessed the business community’s increasing role in the National Green Growth Strategy with various practical actions, contributing to the implementation of green growth. Many businesses have considered green business as a strategy and competitive advantage, focusing on using clean energy and environmental-friendly materials and supporting social responsibility activities. They also invested in modern, high-tech, environmental-friendly production lines using fewer resources and energy, and minimising waste.
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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (C) attends the forum. Photo: MPI |
Ensure rapid, effective and sustainable economic development
At the forum, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasised that the Vietnamese Party and State encourage green growth in order to ensure rapid, effective and sustainable economic development, contributing to implementing the socio-economic development strategy.
Facing sustainability trends on all three pillars of economy, society and environment, the national green growth strategy has been adopted with outstanding initial results, contributing to the international community’s efforts in response to climate change. Vietnam has made strong commitments to realise net-zero emissions by the middle of the country, and also carried out sustainable development goals in the implementation of new-generation free trade agreements such as Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
The Prime Minister said, green growth needs a suitable roadmap, with different conditions and capacity of each region, locality and business, encouraging the participation of all, particularly businesses and people, and the promotion of public - private partnership (PPP) projects.
The Government of Vietnam pledged to perfect institutions, mechanisms and policies to create a favorable, equal business environment, while raising national competitiveness in order to remove difficulties facing enterprises, Prime Minister Chinh noted.
With the motto of “Solidarity, Discipline - Mettle, Flexibility - Innovation, Creativity - Timeliness, Effectiveness” in 2023, the Government will guide ministries, agencies and localities to make strongest determination to reap more achievements this year, and to create all possible conditions for businesses to growth further, ensure harmonious interests among all parties.
Soren Roed Pederson, VBF Co-chair stressed that serving as an important dialogue, the forum has provided various recommendations for Vietnam. He hailed Vietnamese ministries and agencies in paying much attention to support businesses, adding that both the world and business are facing numerous obstacles.
The Government needs to have long-term plans and visions to ensure risk sharing and urge the business community implementing green growth. The VBF vows utmost efforts to contribute to the success and development of Vietnam’s economy, he added./.
Bao Linh
Ministry of Planning and Investment