On December 19, 2024, the Vietnam Industrial Park Forum convened in Ho Chi Minh City, bringing together over 300 senior leaders and 35 renowned speakers from Viet Nam and internationally. Under the theme "The Era of Rising for Vietnam Industrial Park", the event focused on policies, infrastructure transformation, and the shift towards sustainable development in industrial parks (IPs). Key topics included attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), advancing finance and capital markets, improving labour quality, and implementing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards.

ESG has become a cornerstone of corporate governance, particularly as Vietnam strives to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Beyond environmental protection, adopting ESG principles enhances a companys reputation and global competitiveness.

Photo 1: Overview of the Vietnam Industrial Park Forum 2024

At the forum, participated in moderating two sessions on "Practicing ESG in industrial parks, sharing practical implementation experiences" and "Developing Green Logistics for the Transformation of New-generation Industrial Parks", Dr Nguyen Tram Anh, National Technical Specialist of the Eco-Industrial Park Project under the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), shared practical insights on applying ESG standards in the management and operation of IPs. She also introduced innovative and sustainable industry pả models from both domestic and international contexts, which could be scaled across Vietnam. "ESG is no longer just a trend; it is a mandatory standard for modern corporate governance. ESG initiatives should align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and meet the expectations of customers and markets. Industriaparksrk that have adopted ESG practices should prioritize digitalizing their data collection processes to enhance the transparency of ESG reporting and establish direct connections with green credit financing sources", said Dr Tram Anh

She also highlighted that over the past eight years, UNIDO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, has supported the transformation of Vietnams industrial parks into eco-industrial parks. This model is built upon 64 indicators across four key pillars: economy, society, environment, and governance. These indicators provide a framework for evaluating and guiding industrial park operations toward sustainability while aligning with ESG criteria. The adoption of the eco-industrial park model not only enhances production efficiency but also significantly reduces negative environmental and social impacts

Concluding the discussion sessions, delegates unanimously agreed that despite the lack of sufficient information and supportive policies, as well as the significant challenges posed by investment costs and implementation capacity, the adoption of ESG presents a substantial opportunity for IPs to enhance their own capabilities, thereby improving international competitiveness and attracting high-quality FDI. Developing green logistics within IPs is crucial, not only to reduce environmental impact but also to unlock new business and investment opportunities. This effort contributes to the transformation of IPs into next-generation zones, where they are expected to become centres of innovation and enterprise support

Photo 2: Panel Discussion on ESG Practices in Industrial Parks. From left to right:

-      Ms. Nguyễn Thị Minh Thúy, Senior Program Manager, Textiles and Manufacturing Program, IDH - The Sustainable Trade Initiative (Netherlands)

-      Mr. Nguyễn Đức Thiện, Enterprise Advisor and Team Lead, Better Work Program, International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations

-      Dr. Nguyễn Trâm Anh, National Technical Manager, Eco-Industrial Park Project, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

-      Associate Professor Dr. Nguyễn Tất Toàn, Chairman of the Council of Rectors for Life Sciences and Environment and Rector of Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City

-      Mr Đào Xuân Đức, Chairman of the HCMC Industrial Park Business Association.

The project "Eco-Industrial Parks in Vietnam", in line with the Global Eco-Industrial Parks Programme implemented by UNIDO in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, has achieved numerous positive outcomes to date. The initiative has contributed to the development of institutional frameworks and policies for eco-industrial park development, supported the transformation of existing industrial parks into EIPs, and assisted businesses in adopting solutions for efficient resource utilization, energy conservation, and cleaner production.

The Vietnam Industrial Park Forum 2024 concluded with impactful messages, reaffirming the crucial role of industrial parks in driving Vietnams sustainable economic growth. The forum not only highlighted the countrys strong commitment to sustainable industrialization but also reinforced the importance of collaboration with key organizations such as UNIDO in supporting Vietnams journey toward green and sustainable development.