This message was made by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Chairman of National Council for Sustainable Development and Competitiveness Improvement, at the Vietnam Business Forum on Sustainable Development 2014 held in Hanoi on February 21 by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD).
The forum aimed to boost business roles in national sustainable development and enhance corporate competitiveness in the integration process.
Attended by more than 300 participants, including officials from the Government, the National Council for Sustainable Development and Competitiveness Improvement, ministries and branches and representatives from foreign embassies, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, enterprises and business associations, the forum was an opportunity for the business community and other stakeholders to update information and policy dialogues, share experiences on good practices in the country and the world, and discuss challenges and opportunities for enterprises in potential development fields like social enterprises, inclusive business and energy-saving business.
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam affirmed Vietnam’s resolve to carry out the national sustainable development strategy. He placed great importance on environmental protection, the response to climate change, social security improvement and the role of the business community in these tasks. He also expressed his hopes that international organizations would continue to support and assist Vietnam in these fields.
Mr Thomas Thomas, CEO of the ASEAN CSR Network, said in his presentation on “ASEAN CSR Vision to 2020" that the private sector needs to be closer with the Government and civil society. There is a need to create mechanisms for this engagement.
As the main sponsor, Chris Brown, Director of the British Council in Vietnam, said "In the context of constant change and development and deepened international integration, there are a lot of common social issues posed to every country.” He added “There is a growing requirement that businesses need to find more creative and diversified solutions for sustainable development models."
In the four-session forum, delegates from pro-sustainability companies in Vietnam like Holcim, Ecofarm, PriceWaterHouse&Cooper, and Bao Viet Holdings discussed good practices, solutions and models for sustainable development such as 'Social Enterprise Development', 'Inclusive Business', ‘Efficient Use of Energy and Adaptation to Climate Change' and 'Sustainability Reporting'.
The inaugural Vietnam Business Forum on Sustainable Development 2014 was organised with the support of the British Council, the Vietnam Business Challenge Fund (VBCF) and some international donors. Organisers and participants expressed their desire to make this event an annual forum.
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Dr Vu Tien Loc, Chairman & President of VCCI
The Vietnam Business Forum for Sustainable Development 2014 was held right after the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD) successfully hosted the Second Assembly that marked its first three years of operation. In the past three years, the council excellently performed its missions of directing and supporting businesses to implement the National Sustainable Development Strategy and played and the roles of representing and connecting the business community with the Government and other stakeholders.
2014 marks the 20th year Vietnam pursued the Sustainable Development Orientation with a lot of economic, social and environmental progresses recognised by the world. In the process, the business community always plays an important role and makes "a positive contribution to implementing socioeconomic development strategy, generating employment and resolving social security, poverty reduction issues" as stated in the Resolution 09-NQ/TW of the Politburo.
Mr Chris Brown, Director of British Council in Vietnam
I was so excited when the British Council, with its missions of creating opportunities for people around the world and building confidence for England (UK), has been actively promoting the development of social enterprises into an important vehicle for suitable socioeconomic development in the past five years and making great successes. I was very glad to see that, in Vietnam, our role in raising awareness of this sector has been widely recognised through our increased relationships with key partners such as the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Central Institute for Economic Management, the National Assembly of Vietnam, and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Furthermore, to support the development of social enterprises, we envisage the importance of linking social enterprises with other stakeholders such as policymakers, businesses and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to strengthen networking impacts, collaboration and experience sharing.
Ms Pratibha Mehta, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam
The United Nations believes that the role of VCCI and each enterprise in implementing green growth is very important. We also believe that the partnership between the business community and the Government is extremely important for the Government as it helps the latter make specific policies to facilitate and encourage businesses to contribute more to sustainable development."
Mr Pham Hoang Mai, Director of Science, Education, Natural Resources and Environment Department, Ministry of Planning and Investment
To carry out the National Strategy for Green Growth, we see the irreplaceable importance of enterprises. Three missions of the Green Growth Strategy are inextricably linked with activities of enterprises: “Building the strategy at the national level and implementing at local and enterprise levels." Growth remodelling and restructuring are being undertaken in many sectors and at many levels but the realisation at businesses plays a decisive role. Therefore, in the draft Action Plan, we have added and elaborated contents concerning the establishment of the business sector’s roles and measures to encourage the participation of enterprises. VCCI has led one working group.
For donors, who have accompanied the Government, people and businesses of Vietnam the past years, we believe that, together with the resources of the Government, the support of donors will be the catalyst to attract investment capital into green economy.
Nam Pham
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