On 24 June 2022, in Ha Noi, the UNIDO project “Eco-industrial Park Intervention in Viet Nam”, in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, organized the consultation workshop “Survey’s findings for eco-industrial park indicators”. These indicators aim at measuring the performance of industrial parks in their transformation towards EIPs. Mr. Le Thanh Quan, Director General of the Department for Economic Zones Management, Ministry of Planning and Investment, and National Project Director, attended and chaired the Workshop.

The workshop was held on Friday, 24 June 2022 with the participation of 69 representatives from industrial park and economic zone authorities from the provinces where the project is active (Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh, Dong Nai, Da Nang, Can Tho, Ninh Binh), neighboring provinces (Ha Noi, Bac Ninh, Vinh Phuc, Hung Yen and Ha Nam), IP developers and tenant companies, international and national organizations, press and media agencies. 

Consultation Workshop on Survey’s Findings for EIP indicators on 24 June 2022, Hanoi 

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Mr. Le Thanh Quan, said that the newly issued Decree 35/2022/ND-CP dated 28 May 2022, replacing Decree 82/2018/ND-CP, stipulates many mechanisms and policies related to the development of eco-industrial parks. The transformation of traditional industrial zones into eco-industrial parks is a right implementation of the government direction as well as the guidance of the Decree.

Mr. Le Thanh Quan, Director General of the Department for Economic Zones Management, Ministry of Planning and Investment, delivered the speech at the workshop

Mr. Alessandro Flammini, UNIDO Project Coordinator, mentioned the journey, started in 2014 and led by UNIDO, to support the Government of Viet Nam with an initial policy framework for the development of EIP across the country. “The EIP approach about creating more resource-efficient and cost-effective industrial parks which are more competive, attractive for investment and risk resilient” he added. And now, based on the International Framework on Eco-Industrial Park, the legal provisions of Decree 35, the environmental, economic and social indicators suggested by UNIDO and IFC to MPI, a team of UNIDO experts have tested the application of EIP indicators in 6 pilot industrial parks. This work resulted in a proposed a set of EIP indicators, tailored to the Vietnamese context, to measure the performance of industrial parks in the aspects of park management, environment, social and economic performance. Mr. Flammini also emphasized that the EIP assessment should not be seen as a ‘certification’ but rather as a process of continuous improvement for industrial parks. 

Mr. Le Thanh Quan, Director General affirmed that besides mechanisms and policies from the government, technical and financial support from international organizations (such as UNIDO, SECO, World Bank), the EIP development needs the close collaboration and joint support by the industrial park and economic zone authorities, IP developers and tenant companies to develop the efficient and sustainable eco-industrial parks.

Ms. Vuong Thi Minh Hieu, Deputy Director General, emphasized that the valuable comments from representatives and experts will contribute to develop a set of EIP indicators, thereby helping the Ministry of Planning and Investment quickly develop a Circular for Decree 35, which is an important basis for effective implementation of the Project as well as the EIP development in the future.

The participants highly appreciated the development of the EIP indicators. They also suggested that, to fully understand their practicality and compliance, the Ministry of Planning and Investment should also coordinate with the other ministries and their own regulations i.e. with the Environmental Law, the Planning Law and other issues on wastewater reuse, industrial symbiosis, clean production etc. Some indicators will have to be reviewed shortly, simplified and clarified for effective implementation.

The IP developers also highlighted the lack of preferential mechanisms and supportive policies for the EIP transformation, which makes it unattractive to investors. IP developers suggested that, in the coming time, the Government should issue more mechanisms and preferential policies for businesses to encourage and promote the development of eco-enterprises and EIPs. At the same time, the participants asked to continue receiving the support from the Project and its experts for the finalization of a set of EIP indicators tailored to Viet Nam.

The Consultation Workshop on Survey’s Findings for EIP indicators

held on June 24, 2022 in Hanoi