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ucts from its breweries, and has reached ticularly aware of climate change and its
52 per cent of renewable energy in pro- negative impact on the country both from
duction while pursuing the DPPA pilot a societal and economic perspective. “As
program and rooftop solar CAPEX to a result, they have reviewed and selected
increase renewable energy. FDI inflows more carefully, so as to ensure
In the finance space, the French devel- that any investment balances between
opment finance organization Proparco is the economic, environmental, and social
providing a $50 million loan for HD Bank benefits,” he added.
to lend to green projects and promote sus- He also pointed out that the government
tainable development, and the International issued Decision No. 1658/QD-TTg approv-
Financial Corporation (IFC) has granted ing the National Green Growth Strategy
nearly $100 million in long-term loans to for 2021-2030 and vision beyond 2050.
OCB Bank to promote the contribution of The strategy sets out a number of specific
the private sector in green and sustainable targets relating to “greening” Vietnam’s Heineken Vietnam
growth in Vietnam by extending credit to economy, including reducing greenhouse
small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) gas emissions, applying the circular eco- is fully supportive
to boost financing for climate-friendly proj- nomic model, increasing renewable energy of the Vietnamese
ects in the country. Other major banks production, and developing sustainable Government, offering
have recently received long-term loans and infrastructure. With regard to investment knowledge and expertise
financial support from international finan- in sustainability projects, the government
cial institutions and promised to fund sus- has opened up more opportunities for the transfer as well as
tainable projects in Vietnam. private sector to be involved and hopes to technical aid. We also
According to the World Bank, green drive additional public-private partnerships require support from the
growth financing projects will be the leading (PPPs). The Prime Minister’s strong com-
partners in sustainable development in mitment at COP26 for Vietnam to become government in terms of a
Vietnam in the future. HSBC Vietnam a net zero economy by 2050 means that legal framework on
believes that the fast-growing Vietnamese sustainable development investment oppor- sustainability. For
economy is fertile ground for investors, tunities and favorable policies will be example, policies to
and it is confident that climate change created to support the country in fighting
initiatives and green finance programs in the negative impact of climate change. support the use of
the country, though still in their infancy, Similarly, Dr. George said the govern- renewable energy, like
have the potential to grow. As an example, ment is making a great deal of effort to DPPA mechanisms in
Vietnam stands at the top in the renewable encourage green and sustainable investment
energy sector with the highest level of by providing favorable conditions for FDI rooftop solar and other
investment in renewables in ASEAN. in such endeavors. types of renewable energy.
“Green investment and green growth have The government has been successfully We also look forward to
attracted much attention from foreign working with the United Nations Devel- further investment in
investors, especially from Europe,” Mr. opment Program (UNDP) and recently
Tim Evans, CEO of HSBC Vietnam, told acquired a financial package of $120 million recycling and collection
VET. “They want to support Vietnam to for the 2022-2026 period, to be used to industries, which will
achieve its green ambitions, which were accelerate the achievement of the UN Sus- support circularity.”
highlighted by the Prime Minister’s com- tainable Development Goals (SDGs), guided
mitment at COP26.” by the UNDP Strategic Plan’s three out- MS. LE THI NGOC MY,
comes - shared prosperity through sus- Head of Sustainability, Heineken Vietnam
PUSHING SUSTAINABLE tainable economic transformation; climate
DEVELOPMENT change, disaster resilience, and environ-
The first and foremost advantage for mental sustainability and governance; and conditions to foreign investors regarding
Vietnam is the government’s focus on access to justice. This is an example of the sustainable development.
promoting sustainable development. Mr. government’s efforts to achieve the SDGs It has been striving to achieve five of
Evans said Vietnamese leaders are par- and it is always looking to offer favorable the 17 SDGs by 2030. Achievable goals
are no poverty, zero hunger, a quality edu-
cation, climate action, and global partner-
Moving forward, to fast-track ships. According to Mr. Le Viet Anh, Direc-
efforts to pursue green growth and tor of the Department of Science, Education,
sustainability, the government should Natural Resources and Environment at
introduce favorable policies to encourage the Ministry of Planning and Investment,
Vietnam can achieve these five goals but
businesses. It should also enhance links will be unable to achieve the other 12. As
between domestic and FDI firms by the government is giving priority to sus-
creating platforms in various economic sectors based on tainable development, FDI with the same
the principle of ‘creating shared value’, where everyone mindset will be welcomed and the gov-
ernment will support them.
can benefit in the long term.” Dr. George added that upgrades and
amendments are regularly made to regula-
MR. BINU JACOB, tions to make investing in Vietnam easier
General Director, Nestlé Vietnam and more transparent. “The implementation

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