Hai Phong (VNA) - The city’s strategic direction, the involvement of relevant units, and the pioneering efforts of businesses are key factors driving compan💞ies in the northern port city of Hai Phong towards green and sustainable development.

Nguyen Thi Cam Huong, Director of the Science-Technology Development and Innovation Centre under the municipal Department of Science and Technology, stated that green and sustainable transformation, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards are inevitable trends. Hai Phong has two industrial parks following the green and circular model: Nam Cau Kien and DEEP C. Diep Thi Kim Hoan, Chief Sustainability Officer at DEEP C Industrial Park (Vietnam's first eco-industrial park), shared that ESG practices at the park have brought about great environmental benefits such as the sufficient use of resources, waste reduction, and water conservation; as well as economic benefits, including contributing to improving DEEP C's competitiveness in attracting investors, customers and partners who are conscious of environmental protection. Among the 14 industrial parks in Hai Phong, SK Group, the second-largest conglomerate of the Republic of Korea (RoK), decided to choose DEEP C to establish a factory producing biodegradable materials with a total investment of 500 million USD on 3.2 hectares. ESG practices also help this industrial park and secondary investors save costs in production activities such as recycling and reusing waste to contribute to long-term cost savings. These parks also meet the desire of employees to work long-term in a business that shows its responsibility for the community and nature, thereby reducing recruitment costs. Vo Xuan Hoai, Deputy Director of the National Innovation Centre (NIC), said that Hai Phong and the NIC have collaborated in advancing research projects, with a focus on high-potential areas such as green transition, environmental technology, and sustainable renewable energy to create specific collaboration opportunities to promote innovation, enhance the competitiveness of businesses, and contribute to the sustainable development of both parties. According to Duong Quynh Ngoc, Director of Ates Global, enterprises in Hai Phong's industrial parks have begun to focus on green transition to achieve net-zero emissions. Currently, Ates Global is providing several services to help them engage in the process and save costs through ESG practices. Le Trung Kien, head of the Hai Phong Economic Zone Authority, said the city is preparing all neccessary conditions to establish the Southern Hai Phong Economic Zone in 2024-2025, which covers an area of approximately 20,000 hectares and will be developed as a green and ecological industrial zone. It is expected to attract from 20-50 billion USD in investments. Permanent Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Anh Quan said that Hai Phong is one of the pioneering localities in the country implementing the National Green Growth Strategy. The city is committed to continuing to implement solutions concertedly and drastically to become a green city based on a green and sustainable economy. Hai Phong plans to carry out its green growth projects in the coming time to enhance its competitiveness with the vision of becoming a model of a dynamic, green, clean, and livable city in the region and an attractive destination for both domestic and foreign investors, stated Quan. In the coming time, Hai Phong will focus on planning investment, and green growth financial policy frameworks, and building another for the allocation and management of the state budget to support the implementation of the National Green Growth Strategy, he added./.