2012 marked a new step of maturity of the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD) as it successfully and effectively implemented a series of training, research and awareness building programmes for enterprises, as well as expanded international cooperation. The Vietnam Business Forum interviewed Mr Nguyen Quang Vinh, Director of the Office for Business Sustainable Development (SD4B) and Secretary General of VBCSD, on sustainability-driven activities in Vietnam. Huong Ly reports.
Could you brief us about VBCSD’s activities last year?
In 2012, VBCSD’s activities were more positive than in 2011, illustrated in four main areas: Communication and awareness-raising; Training; Research; and International cooperation. Its activities caught much attention of the Government, as evidenced by its support and facilitation for the council’s operations. In particular, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan directly instructed and administered its operations through bi-annual meetings. At these meetings, VBCSD proposed sustainability-driven activities and solutions in Vietnam to the Prime Minister.
VBCSD organised 11 conferences on green growth and responsible business and 17 training courses (working condition improvement, changes in labour laws, wage policies, etc), completed two reports on policy recommendations and signings, coordinated with relevant bodies to deploy activities for the sake of sustainable development of enterprises. In 2012, VBCSD cooperated with related agencies to organise the fifth CSR Awards 2012 for companies nationwide regardless of scale or operating model. The broad participation of the business community reflected the rising prestige of VBCSD.
What has VBCSD done to raise awareness of sustainable development among the business community?
With respect to heightening the awareness of the business community, VBCSD successfully organised two important forums on sustainable cities and food security, which drew the participation of officials from the Government, ministries, research institutes, and large enterprises, and mass media agencies. VBCSD also hosted many meetings on hot issues such as economic growth, environmental impact management; climate change response; responsible tourism business in protected areas with more than 1,000 business leaders and domestic and international experts. Notably, apart from pro-business activities, VBCSD persists in bringing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to university syllabi.
As regards training, VBCSD provided knowledge, information, management tools related to sustainable development for its members and the business community, especially small and medium-sized enterprises and cottage industry enterprises, through 17 training courses for more than 1,000 participants. The council also organised vocational training courses for 12 poor minors in the framework of Youth Career Initiative (YCI).
VBCSD is said to be carrying out a series of research projects for sustainable development objectives in Vietnam. Could you talk more about the meaning and purpose of those projects?
Concerning research, VBCSD is actively specifying the Vision 2050 initiated by the WBCSD with the aim of building a new agenda for Vietnamese enterprises towards sustainable development with two reports on "Improving women's economic capacity" and "Green project" which were submitted to the Deputy Prime Minister in the previous meeting. On January 15, 2013, VBCSD continued with studies on effective energy use in the cement, steel and paper industries to submit to Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan. At present, VBCSD is continuing with the Report on “Opportunities for an ageing population” expected to be completed in early 2013. These reports and studies on key industries aim to shape the Vision 2050 for businesses and provide practical domestic and international information as well as the recommendations on related issues for companies. VBCSD studies have tremendous contributions and values to political and social aspects, and display VBCSD’s leading role in orientating sustainable development for the business community.
International cooperation expansion is one of VBCSD’s strengths. Would you be kind enough to talk about its effectiveness?
As an active partner in member of the Regional Network of World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) constituted by 64 member councils from many countries and territories, VBCSD has cooperative relations more than 100 partners on sustainable development. VBCSD was invited to many international conferences like International Conference on "Business and Human Rights" in Oslo, Norway (from February 24 to March 3, 2012); International Conference on “Businesses with climate change response” in Bonn (from March 24 - 28); the Business Forum on Sustainable Development at the Rio + 20 Summit; and Consultation Conference on “Businesses and Human Rights” in Singapore (December 11 - 12, 2012.)
VBCSD continues supporting Laos and Cambodia to establish Business Councils for Sustainable Development. Recently, VBCSD in collaboration with the Laos Chamber of Commerce and Industry organised an experience-sharing workshop on establishment and development of Business Council for Sustainable Development.
What are VBCSD’s plans for 2013?
In 2013, with the care of the Government, and the support of ministries and localities, VBCSD will continue implementing activities centred on four main fields towards sustainable development. Accordingly, the Council will expand business support operations in competitiveness enhancement. Membership development, fund-raising campaign, coordination strengthening with other ministries, and accelerated operations of Working Groups will be the focal points of 2013.
According to VBCSD, in 2013, the Council will continue organising training, seminar and communication activities, especially closer activities to businesses like business start-up projects and corporate competitiveness surveys.
Thank you very much!
Source Vietnam Business Forum
