Seminar tackles solutions for sustainable industrial parks

At the seminar, Santanu Dutta Gupta, deputy director of the US Green Building Council, delivered a presentation on "Development trends and evaluation standards for industrial parks and green urban areas." He shared insights into global trends and standards for evaluating green industrial parks and urban areas, stressing the importance of applying green standards in Vietnam’s development process.

In another presentation titled "Economic energy design of buildings, industrial parks and urban areas: The missing link in the implementation process of net-zero," Tran Thanh Vu, director of Edeec and deputy director of the IRAT, emphasised the importance of energy-efficient design, which must be coupled with economic efficiency assessments. He described this as key to achieving net-zero targets.

“Energy optimisation is not just a goal for sustainable development, but also a crucial factor in minimising environmental impacts while balancing development with resource conservation,” Vu said.

As businesses increasingly aim for net-zero, the energy-efficient design solutions proposed by Vu open up new directions that contribute to sustainable development without adding excessive costs to initial investments, while offering long-term benefits.

Le Phuong Anh, director of Sustainable Building Vietnam (SBVN), discussed the challenges and opportunities related net-zero and reducing CO2 emissions, highlighting that these are new goals not just for Vietnam, but for the world.

“SBVN is a non-profit programme focused on promoting the development of energy-efficient buildings and moving towards net-zero in Vietnam. The programme supports capacity building, technical assistance, and raising awareness within the community,” Phuong Anh said.

Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, founder of Sen Vang Group, shared strategies for sustainable development in industrial park and urban area projects.

“If investors and developers want to be highly regarded by the public, focusing on a comprehensive green strategy is crucial. From project development to operational management, Sen Vang Group is committed to innovation, energy efficiency, and environmental respect in every aspect of its real estate development strategy,” Ngoc said.

Financial solutions and green loans were a key focus of the seminar, drawing interest from investors and project developers.

Ly Minh Quang, director of VietinBank’s FDI Customer and International Capital Department, introduced the bank’s strategy for supporting sustainable development and its financial commitments.

“VietinBank has made significant strides with its Sustainable Finance Framework, which has been rated by independent evaluator Morningstar Sustainalytics as reliable and impactful for sustainable development,” Quang said.

As of Q2, VietinBank’s green credit balance had reached VND42.3 trillion ($1.76 billion), benefiting over 1,000 customers across six key sectors. The bank is also supporting the government’s COP28 commitments, having signed a cooperation agreement with MUFG to mobilise up to $1 billion for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and sustainable development initiatives in Vietnam.

Currently, VietinBank is offering a Green Up package worth up to $208 million and a Green Deposit product to support environmentally beneficial projects, such as green energy, green exports, and green construction.

Andy Han, CEO of Filmore Development, a company aiming to be a leader in sustainable real estate development, explained how the company is applying international standards in green construction, energy efficiency, and resource management to ensure harmony with the natural environment and local communities.

“Sustainable development is both a trend and a goal for many real estate developers, including Filmore Development. It’s a long-term journey that comes with costs, and the price of sustainable projects may be higher than non-sustainable ones. However, if customers are willing to support sustainability, the process will be faster and more efficient,” Han said.

Industrial, service, and urban zones with smart technology application in operation and management of technical infrastructure will become hot development trends in the Vietnamese market, especially when it comes to some of the nation’s biggest foreign investors.

Vietnam, a nation experiencing rapid industrialisation and economic growth, stands at a pivotal point in its developmental trajectory. Rizwan Khan, managing partner, at Acclime Vietnam, looks at the importance of sustainable development and the progress of implementing greener industrial areas.

The set of standards to measure factors related to sustainable development and social impact of businesses is a global trend and has become a well-known concept among the businesses, especially when sustainable development continues to receive heightened attention.

Hung Yen province is sparing no efforts to build and expand its industrial parks to best serve investors.