Businesses Play an Important Role in Sustainable Development

This was confirmed by Mr Nguyen Quang Vinh, Director of the Office for Business Sustainable Development (SD4B) under the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and General Secretary of the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD), in the general meeting for 2012, organised in Hanoi on January 15, 2013. The event attracted VBCSD members, representatives of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of other countries, international organisations, and NGOs.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr Gary Schutz, CEO of Holcim Company and Co-chair of VBCSD, said that sustainable development is a global trend today. In recent years, enterprises’ awareness of sustainable development has positively changed. More and more companies highly value and meet their responsibilities to society and environment. In their activities, a lot of enterprises not only pay attention to enhancing their own interests, but also focus on improving value for the community and the livelihood of their workers. He stressed that the challenges that change the perception of enterprises are climate change, population growth and environmental pollution. The co-chair of VBCSD proposed taking action to deal with these challenges.

Remarking on VBCSD’s results in the past year, Mr Nguyen Quang Vinh said, activities of VBCSD in 2012 were more positive than those of 2011 in both quantity and quality. VBCSD organised 11 seminars (on green growth and responsible business, etc.) with 1,045 participants and 17 training courses (on improvement of labour conditions, labour law changes, salary policy, etc.) for 1,081 trainees; and deployed training for minors in difficult circumstances.

VBCSD is a communication partner and advocate of the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) in the implementation of the Vietnam Business Challenge Fund (VBCF). VBCSD also coordinates with the Vietnam Green Building Council (VGBC) in instituting common green building standards, incorporating the requirements of the green building policy on sustainable development of the country. In particular, VBCSD coordinates with the Support Program to Respond to Climate Change (SP-RCC).

Delegates were also interested in reports of Working Groups. Mr Nguyen Cong Minh Bao, Director of Sustainable Development of Holcim Vietnam, presented a policy recommendations report on Energy and Climate Change. Mr Tran Vu Hoai, Vice President of Unilever Vietnam presented a policy recommendations report entitled "Empowering Women in Economics." Mr Yannick Millet presented policy recommendations on green building.

Mr Daniel Oporto, Founding Member and Co-Chief of the group working on the poor, and Senior Advisor of SNV, said in the current difficult time, supporting low-income people becomes important, because it not only helps to maintain achievements reached in poverty reduction, it also provides sustainable development opportunities for businesses and for the country. This dual benefit is becoming a global trend with concepts such as “Inclusive business” and “Shared values.”

Mr Nguyen Quang Vinh stressed that the success of VBCSD in the past year has been attributed to the close guidance of the Government and the leaders of the VCCI, and close cooperation with ministries, local, national and international organisations, especially the active participation of its members and the business community.

In 2013, VBCSD will continue to organise training, research, international cooperation, and support local and strategic partners in implementing sustainable development initiatives; while deploying a number of activities in the field of improving competitiveness, because that is the benefit of doing business activities towards sustainable development.

The meeting also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on climate change between SD4B (VCCI) and the Bureau of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment- MONRE. The signing took place in the presence of Mr Tran Hong Ha, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and Dr Doan Duy Khuong, Vice President of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In the afternoon of the same day, from 14:00 to 16:00, a Meeting of VBCSD Executive Board Members was held in order to report the detailed work plan 2013. The meeting was co-chaired by the two Co-Chairmen of VBCSD, Dr. Doan Duy Khuong, Vice Executive President of VCCI and Mr. Gary Schutz, CEO of Holcim Vietnam Ltd.. At the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh, VBCSD General Secretary presented VBCSD Work plans and Budget in 2013.

Thanks to VBCSD achievements in the last year, in 2013, the Government has increased its financial support to VBCSD by 20% compared to 2012. As a result, in 2013, VBCSD will expands its activities to the area of business competitiveness enhancement.

VBCSD EB members also discussed membership development. This year, VBCSD will futher promote communication and awareness raising activities to attract more businesses to joint VBCSD. Among measures proposed was the possibility for non-EB members even potential members to be invited to participate in EB meetings.

On 17:00 – 18:00, at the Government Office, VBSD members met with Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan. This is the third meeting with the DPM according to the regular 6-month schedule.

At the meeting, the activity report of VBCSD Co-Chairman Doan Duy Khuong was followed by the presentation of a white paper on energy and climate change conducted by the Working Group on the same topic, which was led by Holcim Viet Nam Ltd. VBCSD also presented to the DPM the draft report of a research on enegy usage in cement, steel and paper sectors. Novartis, SNV, Intel shared their related operations in collaboration with VBCSD, including initiatives on raising awareness among businesses, inclusive business, and renewable energy.

The DPM highly appreciated the efforts of VBCSD and encourage businesses to identify and promote good practices in sustainable development, especially local initiatives.

At the end of the meeting, Mr. Gary Schutz, CEO of Holcim Viet Nam Ltd. was honored to present the DPM the book “ Human Quest” and invited the Government Leader to the 5th CSR Awarding Ceremony, which will be organized by the end of March.

Source Vietnam Business Forum

Other News

A New Stage of Development

VBCSD General Meeting 2012 in Hanoi on 15th January

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).

Nhon Trach 2 Combined Cycle Power Plant

Nhon Trach 2 Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP) received the gold award in the "Fast-Track Power Plant of the Year" category at the Asian Power Award 2012

CSR Award 2012: For Sustainable Development of Enterprises

Exercising good CSR is a must-do task on the path of international integration and an inseparable business activity because it benefits both businesses and the society

Businesses Play an Important Role in Sustainable Development

Other News

Đăng nhập