On 29 August 2023, in Ho Chi Minh City, UNIDO, in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Export Processing and Industrial Zones Authority (HEPZA), organized a meeting with the related parties to discuss the feasibility, methods and plans to implement urban-industrial symbiosis solutions between Hiep Phuoc industrial park and surrounding urban areas, contributing to the transformation of Hiep Phuoc industrial park to the eco-industrial park.

 Attending the meeting were leaders and officers in charge of environment and technical aspects from the HEPZA, Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park Joint Stock Company, the Department of Construction, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, UNIDO experts and the representative of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

At the meeting, Mr. Le Xuan Thinh, UNIDO expert, delivered a presentation about the eco-industrial park and 4 feasibility studies on urban-industrial symbiosis for Hiep Phuoc industrial park:

• Sharing human resources and firefighting facilities between Hiep Phuoc IP and Nha Be district, Ho Chi Minh City
• Developing a network of shuttle bus for workers in Hiep Phuoc IP
• Developing the social houses for workers working in Hiep Phuoc IP
• Utilization of treated wastewater of the IP’s wastewater treatment system to water plants in the premises of Hiep Phuoc IP and surrounding areas

During the discussion, the participants highly appreciated the benefits that urban-industrial symbiosis brings to businesses, industrial parks and localities. The implementation of urban-industrial symbiosis activities as proposed by UNIDO for Hiep Phuoc IP and the city will help strengthening the capacity to respond to firefighting, minimizing traffic congestions, increasing revenue for public transportation businesses, reducing water resource consumption and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, there are still many barriers that need to be overcome and removed, such as changing workers habits and lack of regulations and standards on the quality of treated industrial wastewater in industrial parks for watering plants, the capital shortage, land planning, policies and administrative procedures in social housing development.

Considering the benefits, advantages and disadvantages of each industrial symbiosis solution, the delegates agreed on two priority solutions: (1) Sharing human resources and firefighting equipment between Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park and Nha Be district; and (2) Developing a network of shuttle service for workers in Hiep Phuoc IP to be further developed in details together with the policy recommendations to support the realization of solutions contributing to development of the modern and sustainable city.

Mr. Pham Van Truc, Deputy Head of HEPZA, affirmed that the results of these industrial symbiosis studies will contribute to the implementation of the industrial park transformation for the period 2021-2025 of Ho Chi Minh City with the orientation of the eco-industrial park model. At the same time, Mr. Truc committed that HEPZA will accompany and coordinate closely with Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park and UNIDO experts to promote the successful implementation of these solutions.

Ms. Nguyen Tram Anh, National Technical Specialist of UNIDO expressed her thanks to the HEPZA and all stakeholders at the meeting. Ms. Tram Anh also emphasized that to successfully implement urban-industrial symbiosis opportunities, cooperation between the parties is very important. The implementation of urban-industrial symbiosis opportunities will bring great benefits, positive impacts on community and reduce the risk of environmental pollution. She also expressed her gratitude for the participation and suggestions of representatives of relevant parties on the four urban-industrial symbiosis opportunities presented by the Project. After the meeting, UNIDO experts will complete the report on urban-industrial symbiosis opportunities according to comments from relevant parties to ensure the feasibility of the opportunities and reflect the needs and goals of all stakeholders.

Mr. Do Quang Huy, Representative of SECO emphasized the research and implementation of urban-industrial symbiosis opportunities in Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park as an initial assessment of the potential urban-industrial symbiosis in Ho Chi Minh City, these studies will contribute inputs for SECOs next work plan in supporting Ho Chi Minh City to become a sustainable megacity.

 Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park (Ho Chi Minh City) is one of three selected industrial zones to participate in the project "Eco-Industrial Park Intervention in Viet Nam" funded by SECO in the period 2020-2023. The project supported the assessment of Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production for 31 enterprises with 300 solutions, proposed 7 industrial symbiosis solutions and 4 urban-industrial symbiosis solutions. Thereby, it is estimated to help businesses save more than 93 billion VND/year, reduce more than 200 thousand m³ of water and 28.5 thousand tons of CO_2eq/year.