On September 17-18, experts from across Europe and Vietnam, high-profile speakers and investors will flock to Hanoi to explore the latest research breakthroughs in the Green Business sector and discuss real market opportunities at “GREEN-BIZ 2009 – European Green Business Solutions for Vietnam”.
It will be the first event presenting Europe’s best green technology, thus creating a national platform for sustainable infrastructure solutions. Combining both a conference and exhibition, it will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners to showcase technologies, discover opportunities, and address challenges Vietnam will face in the near future as well as in the longer term.
Since the nation’s development of infrastructure is still lagging behind the needs of its burgeoning economy and sustainable solutions are a prerequisite for long-term growth, GreenBiz will particularly focus on energy, energy efficiency, construction and water, in addition to effective ways of leveraging the financing available for “Green” projects.
The conference part of the event will offer a platform for leading figures from Europe’s biggest players in the green biz sector as well as smaller specialised companies, independent experts and Vietnamese key government representatives to discuss Vietnam’s current infrastructure challenges and feasible options for cleaner solutions, which at the same time can provide for concrete business opportunities.
Sessions will be held in a roundtable format to enable direct interaction between policy makers and key industry representatives, and to provide participants with ample opportunities to ask questions and participate in the debate. Each moderated roundtable will be comprised of a Vietnamese government representative, and European and Vietnamese experts from industry, international organizations, funds and academia.
So far GreenBiz has been able to secure the presence of the heads of key international organizations in the field including the World Bank and ADB, experts from Europe, corporate representatives from the biggest European players, specialized consultancies as well as strong support from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and other key Ministries.
The GREEN-BIZ exhibition will be Vietnam’s first comprehensive exhibition on all aspects of cleaner infrastructure solutions and is promised to be an unprecedented showcase of best European companies and technologies in the field. As such, it will present the latest technologies used in Europe and throughout the region suitable for Vietnam’s development, in addition to innovative solutions already existent in Vietnam.
Various features like VIP rooms and facilities for private meetings will create the ideal environment to examine real business opportunities, network with Vietnamese decision makers from government or businesses, European companies and expert professionals.
Although exhibition space is filling up quickly and many key European companies have been signed already, the organisers said they were still receiving registrations from companies both in Europe and Asia before the expo opens in September.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem is stressing the need for sustainable development and has welcomed GREEN-BIZ 2009 as a sound initiative for Vietnam. In a recent note he urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to co-ordinate with EuroCham and VCCI in delivering the event. “Vietnam welcomes and encourages the exchange of contacts and experiences as well as cooperation in research and development of green technology between Vietnam and key players, including EU partners”, he said.
“GreenBiz couldn’t come at a better time,” said EuroCham Chairman, Alain Cany. “The global economy is slowing, yet Vietnam remains one of the fastest growing countries in Asia with a huge demand for infrastructure investment to sustain further growth and an increasingly pressing need for environmentally sustainable solutions.” He added: “GreenBiz serves as the ideal local business initiative to support the political efforts as discussed in the ASEM Foreign Ministerial Meeting last month as well as specialised workshop in Vietnam to combat Climate Change with the common efforts and combined strength of Asia and Europe.”
He was echoed by VCCI Vice Chairman, Dr. Doan Duy Khuong: “GreenBiz is an event that has all the potential to be mutually beneficial as Vietnam is in great need for green business solutions in order to face the environmental challenges ahead and European business is on the forefront of delivering the much needed technological innovations.”
“While Vietnam has already begun implementing a number of policies to balance rapid growth and environmental needs, the GREEN-BIZ 2009 exhibition is an opportunity for Vietnam to gain access to partners and technologies in Europe that could enable this country even to leapfrog neighboring countries in facing this challenge,” said Sean Doyle, EU Ambassador to Vietnam, expressing his support.