This is the declaration of Dr. Vu Tien Loc – President of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and President of Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD) at the 4^th Vietnam Corporate Sustainability Development (VCSF 2017), organized in Ha Noi on October 10.

Follow the success of 3 previous VCSF in 2014, 2015 and 2016, VCSF 2017 attracts around 350 participants coming from the Government, Parliament, local authorities, research institutions, development organizations, business sector, National and international media. VCSF 2017 discussed about the setting up of a sound business environment for creative solutions, therefore, could be a chance for business leaders to have a direct conversation with Government representatives, and strengthen the Government support for their sustainable development.

Mr. Vu Tien Loc, VCCI President cum VBCSD President on his stage at VCSF 2017

At VCSF 2017’s plenary session, Mr. Kamal Malhotra, United Nations Resident Coordinator, insisted that Viet Nam is one of examples on successful sustainable development in the period, but also faces challenges from a growth that less comprehensive. The UN’s delegate committed to cooperate with Vietnamese government to impulse efforts towards sustainable development targets, and stressed on the vital role of enterprises in fostering and scaling up business solutions to Sustainable Development Goals.

Mr. Kamal Malhotra, United Nations' Resident Coordinator at VCSF 2017

Mr. Vo Tuan Nhan, Deputy Minister of Natural Resource and Rural Development, has a presentation on plan to carry out the Paris Agreement on climate change in Viet Nam. He explained that in the period 2017-2020, the public and private sector need to cooperate in bringing out approved actions to address climate change, along with the preparation of policy and regulation, solutions and resources to tackle missions set up by Paris Agreement. Mr. Vo Tuan Nhan insisted on the role of business sector, and believed they would be the main character to turn Paris Agreement into real. VBCSD and VCCI hold an extremely important responsibility to mobilize the participation of business sector, and connect them to the Government and authority to achieve the above purpose.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resource and Environment, Mr. Vo Tuan Nhan, explained the plan to carry out Paris Agreement in Viet Nam

Aside from that, the world is facing threatens to food security due to population booming. Green agriculture oriented by sustainable development could open a vary range of business opportunities for Viet Nam – a country with advantage for agricultural growth. Mr. Ha Cong Tuan, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, affirmed that sustainable agriculture and food security is mission and responsibility of the Government, authority, enterprises and civil society, not priority or expectation.

As an overview on the implementation of SDGs in 2030 Agenda, Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh, VCCI Deputy Secretary General cum VBCSD Vice President, informed that the world has recorded a stronger support from business sector than thought (number of enterprises participated in UN’s forum on Sustainable Development has been jumped from 200 in 2016 to 1500 after 2 years), and they have better awareness on opportunities and risks.

In 5 years, the number of enterprises who made Sustainability Reporting has been doubled. 90% of those in top 500 entrepreneurs has made this report. International network and cooperation has been linked and strengthened. However, entrepreneurs’ impact on sustainable development is limited in general. They need to be more active in competitiveness improvement, catching up with business opportunities, innovation, and application of creative business model and solutions to sustainable development for long-term achievement.

MR. Nguyen Quang Vinh, VCCI Vice Secretary General cum VBCSD Vice Chairman sums up
the implementation of SDGs in the world

Also in the scope of Plenary session, Mr. Leo Evers, Managing Director of Heineken Vietnam has shared experience on business solutions to achieve SDGs through the application of Circular Economy, enhancement of the uses of renewable energy, recycle and reuse rate for a no-waste economy in near future. Recently, 4/6 factories of Heineken Vietnam brew their beer by biomass energy, and 99% of waste and by-product has been recycled and reused. Heineken Vietnam keeps on reducing the water amount consumed in their production and waste processed.

Mr. Leo Evers, Managing Director of HEINEKEN Việt Nam shared experience on business solutions to achieve SDGs

The Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) from Unilever aims to build sustainable lives worldwide, scaling-up business along with positive social impact and reduce influence on the environment. From 6 years embark on the USLP, Mr. Tran Vu Hoai, Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Sustainable Development at Unilever Viet Nam, has explained the engagement of USLP at the heart of Unilever’s business and take it as their business guidelines. 18 sustainable brands of Unilever gain 50% better growth in comparison to their rest, and those brands accounted for 60% of Unilever’s total turnover. Unilever has reached hundreds million people through their health, sanitary and life quality improvement campaigns, with the spotlight on women’s empowerment program. Mr. Tran Vu Hoai asserted that there was no exchange between Sustainable Development and business growth but reserve, heading to SDGs was the motive for escalation.

Mr. Tran Vu Hoai, Vice President of  Corporate Affairs and Sustainable Development at Unilever Viet Nam,
introduced Unilever's Sustainable Living Plan

Upcoming, VCCI has assigned VBCSD to host the Vietnam Centre for Circular Economy (VCCE), which help to grab a business opportunities that worth 4.5 million billion USD, and gain better business engagement in creating a no-waste economy, decent jobs and improving competitiveness of private sector in Viet Nam. The very first project of VCCE named “Zero Waste to Nature” is going to be launched right after VCSF 2017. VBCSD is going to coordinate with International Trade Center (ITC) to apply Sustainability Map, the standard system to support sustainable agriculture, in Viet Nam.

Afterwards, 4 breakdown sessions in the scope of VCSF 2017 were organized to clarify 4 attractive business topics, which help better practice and actions for SDGs.