Danish royal couple leads business promotion in Vietnam

Denmark is deemed to attach great importance to Vietnam - as a bilateral partner and an increasingly significant actor in the global efforts against climate change.

With the signing of the Comprehensive Partnership Agreement in 2013, Denmark and Vietnam moved from traditional development cooperation to a full-fledged and mutually beneficial partnership on trade and investment, green growth, political dialogue, energy, food safety, education, health, and culture.

The official programme of the visit continued with the grand opening of the Denmark – Vietnam Sustainable Energy Summit where the Crown Prince couple, together with several representatives of the government of Vietnam, witnessed the signing of 14 MoUs between Danish and Vietnamese companies.

Offshore wind power and energy efficiency, which play a critical role in supporting Vietnam’s efforts to transition to a low-carbon economy, are also the two areas that Danish companies possess solid and well-proven solutions and technology.

"The visit to Vietnam has great value – both practically and symbolically – as it underlines the great friendship and cooperation between Denmark and Vietnam. It also helps step up the two countries’ high-ranking discussion on the path towards a greener and more sustainable societies,” said Nicolai Prytz, Ambassador of Denmark in Vietnam.

Following the grand opening of the Denmark – Vietnam Sustainable Energy Summit were two seminars: "Exploring the role of Danish know-how and technology in building a wind industry in Vietnam" and "Improving energy efficiency in the industry towards net zero emissions target by 2050."

Nearly 70 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in Vietnam come from energy production and consumption. Therefore, action in the energy sector is paramount for the green transition of the economy.

"The visit to Vietnam by the Crown Prince couple has great value – both practically and symbolically – as it underlines the great friendship and cooperation between Denmark and Vietnam. It also helps step up the two countries’ high-ranking discussion on the path towards a greener and more sustainable societies,” said Nicolai Prytz, Ambassador of Denmark in Vietnam.

“The two seminars, one on offshore wind power and the other on energy efficiency, hosted today respectively by the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, have created great platforms for further strengthening the ongoing debates and exchanges of knowledge and experience between Danish and Vietnamese sector decision makers, business people and potential investors,” he added.

The first day of the official visit concluded with a grand dinner and a gala performance by renowned Vietnamese and Danish artists at the Hanoi Opera Theatre to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Denmark and Vietnam.

On the second day of the official visit, the Crown Prince will attend a trade and investment promotion event between Danish and Vietnamese offshore wind power businesses and investors in Haiphong and visit the largest industrial port in northern Vietnam, which could be powered by offshore wind energy in the future.

The Crown Prince will also attend an Offshore Wind for Kids event at Ocean Dragon Beach in Haiphong, where children can play with small-scale offshore wind turbines and learn various aspects of offshore wind energy.

The official visit to Vietnam by the Crown Prince couple is part of the 50th-anniversary celebration of diplomatic relations between Denmark and Vietnam, which was delayed a year due to the pandemic.

There could be a bright future for Vietnamese renewables businesses. Bui Trung Kien, vice chairman of CME Solar Investment JSC, talked to VIR’s Hue Anh about the related policies and government support that could kickstart long-term renewables projects in this country.

Vietnam is now facing big pressure to carry out its energy transition in a greener manner, with the government advised to place high priority on limiting coal-fired power development while developing more renewable energy.

With the demand for electricity increasing rapidly and supply and a sense of economical use more limited, saving electricity is deemed an important tool during possible periods of crisis in the future.

G20 energy talks in Bali ended Friday with the world's leading economies pledging to accelerate the transition to cleaner energy, but there was no binding agreement as officials struggle to overcome discord over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.