A New Stage of Development

2012 marks a new stage of development for Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD) with the effective implementation of various activities in the areas of communications and awareness raising in business community, training, research, international cooperation. In particular, in 2012 Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development coordinated with other ministries and sectors to organize the 5^th Corporate Social Responsibility Award nationwide with the participation of businesses at all scales and sectors, despite many challenges. This demonstrates the increasing reputation of VBCSD in business community.

Speaking at the VBCSD General Meeting 2012 in Hanoi on 15^th January, Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh, General Director of the Office for Business Sustainable Development (SD4B),Secretary General of VBCSD said that VBCSD activities 2012 have been more actively implemented against last year in both quantity and quality. In order to further enhance cooperation in green growth, a signing ceremony of MOU within the framework of the meeting took place between Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE).

With regards to awareness raising in business community, VBCSD successfully organized 02 forums on sustainable urbanization and food security forum with the participation of government leaders, ministries, research institutes, enterprises, and social media agencies. VBCSD also held the workshops on hot issues such as economic growth, environmental impact management, response to climate change, responsible tourism… with over 1000 participants from business community and dozens of top domestic and foreign experts. Noticeably, besides business-related activities, VBCSD persists in its endeavors to embed corporate social responsibility into curriculums of universities and colleges.

Regarding training, VBCSD provides its members and business community, especially SMEs, craft villages with knowledge, information, and management tools on sustainable development through 17 training workshops for more than 1000 employees from local businesses throughout the country; vocational training for 12 disadvantaged youth.

In the area of research, VBCSD is concretizing Vision 2050 launched by WBCSD aimed to set a new agenda for Vietnamese businesses towards sustainable development with 02 reports on “Economic Empowerment for Women” and “Green Building” submitted to the Deputy Prime Minister in the previous meeting. VBCSD has finalized the policy recommendation draft on “Energy and Climate Change Mitigation”, while conducting a research on the Status of Energy Use in Steel, Cement, and Paper. Another report on “Opportunities for an Aging Population” will be accomplished by early next year. These reports and researches are the key sectors in building Vision 2050 for businesses and provide practical information and business recommendations in related issues.

In international cooperation, as an active partner among 64 World Business Council for Sustainable Development regional partners, VBCSD collaborates with more than 100 partners in the area of sustainable development. VBCSD is invited to international forums such as the International Conference on “Business and Human Rights” (24th Feb– 03^rd March 2012 in Norway), the International Conference on “Business and Response to Climate Change” (24-28 March in Bonn), Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum, Regional Consultation on Business and Human Rights in Singapore from 11-12 Dec 2012.

VBCSD continues to support the establishment of Laotian and Cambodian Business Council for Sustainable Development. Recently, VBCSD coordinated with Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and related ministries, sectors to successfully organize the experience sharing workshop on VBCSD’s establishment and development.

In 2013, VBCSD will continue its implementation in SD activities, and at the same time extend some supporting activities in business competitiveness. Besides, membership development, fund raising, collaboration enhancement, strengthening working groups will be the focal points in 2013.

Source Vietnam Potential

Other News

Support Corporate Sustainability

VBCSD Executive Board and its members held a working session with Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan on 15th January

Accompanying Enterprises on Sustainable Development

VBCSD is committed to joining hands for sustainable development in Vietnam and accompanying enterprises on sustainable development

Enhancing the Business Role in Sustainable Development

Green growth and sustainable development is a considerable challenge for developing countries like Vietnam

VBCF: Business Opportunities- Community Benefits

VBCSD in collaboration with the Vietnam Business Forum interviewed Mr Javier Ayala, Executive Manager of Vietnam Business Challenge Fund (VBCF)

Training course in Hai Phong

VBCSD co-ordinates with ETI Norway to organize the training course “ Latest updates on Labor Code; Improving working conditions to enhance business productivity

Promoting Business with Low-Income People

Vietnam Business Challenge Fund (VBCF) was officially launched to promote innovative and sustainable business innovations involving low-income people

Regional CSR Conference

The Conference "Corporate Social Responsibility practice towards Sustainable Development” was held within the framework of the project “Helping Vietnamese SMEs Adapt and Adopt Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for Improved Linkages with Global Supply Chains in Sustainable Production” funded by European Union (EU).