Ho Chi Minh City's economy moves towards the goal of 'four greens'

100 CEOs from countries worldwide gathered in Ho Chi Minh City to give suggestions and proposals to help the city government realize the goal of rapid, sustainable development towards green growth.

Driving force for sustainable growth

Within the framework of the Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum, on the afternoon of September 14, the Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, Phan Van Mai, chaired the program "CEO 100 Tea Connect", connecting leaders of corporations and managers of leading countries in the world, finding solutions for the City's green growth process.

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Speaking at the program's opening, Mr. Phan Van Mai informed that Ho Chi Minh City is a large urban area of over 10 million people, Vietnam's economic, cultural, educational, science and technology centre.

For its residents, businesses, and visitors from outside the city that come to Ho Chi Minh City, the city constantly works to create a good living environment as well as a convenient, safe, and productive working environment.

However, the City is also facing challenges such as climate change, traffic congestion, human resource shortage, and the impact of cyclicality on economic development.

Ho Chi Minh City Chairman Phan Van Mai spoke at the meeting. Photo: Nguyen Hue

To respond to these challenges, Mr Phan Van Mai said the City is restructuring its economy, identifying the green economy as the driving force to promote sustainable growth and development in the coming period.
The Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City stated, "The city is very determined to research and propose a framework for a green development strategy and commit to allocating full resources to achieve net zero by 2050 (net zero emissions)".

Accordingly, in the green development strategic framework, the City determines to take people and businesses as the centre of transformation while also determining to focus on "four greens".

First, international cooperation, green finance, and highly skilled human resources are all examples of green resources.

Second is green infrastructure, including energy conversion, clean water, economical water use, and resource circulation.

Third, green behaviour in green consumption, green transportation and construction.

Fourth, the fields pioneering green transformation include high-tech manufacturing, green startups, innovation, tourism, agriculture, green food, and building the Can Gio district into a green locality.

"We hope that organizations, experts, CEOs, and individuals will continue to offer proposals so that the City can complete the green strategy framework as soon as is practical," stated Mr. Phan Van Mai.

Besides, Mr Phan Van Mai also said that the City will aim to become a startup and innovation centre of the region.

Tax exemption and reduction for green businesses

The CEO 100 Tea Connect attendees spoke most frequently about the circular economy, green growth, and green transformation throughout the meeting.

Mr. Ichisaka Hirofumi, Senior Executive Director of International Relations of Osaka Prefecture (Japan), shared that in the 1950s, Japan developed miraculously, but it also brought serious pollution problems.
In 1973, Osaka Prefecture implemented Japan's first business management model with clear environmental regulations. Thanks to that, we maintain stable growth and, at the same time, pioneer in overcoming environmental pollution problems, achieving what we are today.

"But climate change, global warming, and mass production of plastic products threaten all of humanity and cannot be solved by a single province or country," the representative said.

He believes that each country, each locality, and Ho Chi Minh City know the importance of green growth, transformation, and circular economy. Ho Chi Minh City's connecting 100 CEOs to discuss green growth is a good and inspirational way in this journey towards a green planet.

Mr. Ricardo Valente, City Councilor for Economy and Finance of Porto City (Portugal), shared that it is necessary to create a circular business spirit to develop green growth effectively, posing challenges for businesses to meet the City's requirements, especially startup businesses (water treatment, energy).

Mr. Ichisaka Hirofumi, Senior Executive Director of International Relations of Osaka Prefecture (Japan) spoke. Photo: Nguyen Hue

According to him, the government must build environmental and green development indicators. Any business with effective solutions will be selected and receive tax exemptions and reductions when meeting the number given.

Besides, there needs to be an organization to guide people to build greenhouses, meeting green criteria and environmental safety.

He also introduced the concept that local governments are the largest consumers in society. Therefore, we must pioneer green products, motivating businesses to produce these products.

"If the state does not participate in this green consumption process, it cannot create motivation for society," the representative from Portugal emphasized.

The CEOs also agreed that every country is aware of and moving towards green growth, creating a green planet for the next generations.