A two-day exhibition and conference "Greenbiz 2009 – European Green Business Solutions for Viet Nam" will be held in the country in September. The following thoughts come from the event’s organisers:
* Alain Cany, chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce
After several months of smoothing out the concept and planning to implement it with our partners, we are certain we will deliver an interesting and forward-looking event and we hope it will set the basis for long-lasting co-operation between Europe and Viet Nam in the Green Biz sector.
Green Biz will offer companies the opportunity to discuss concrete investment opportunities directly with relevant Vietnamese decision makers, as well as address the challenges that Viet Nam is facing in its efforts to make the business environment more conducive for green investment.
* Doan Duy Khuong, Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry
During the last three decades, East Asia in particular has experienced strong economic development with the emergence of "new tigers" or "new titans". Many former third world countries have developed into advanced nations, which are playing a more important role in globalisation. In addition to the globe’s miraculous economic achievements, many environmental and social issues have arisen. The challenge of the new era is "how to address environmental issues in parallel with economic growth and social advancement in order to ensure sustainable development".
Viet Nam’s five-year development plan sets out many goals and solutions dealing with growth and sustainable development.
However, Government action alone is not sufficient. It is imperative to gain the co-operation of the business community - the main force in promoting economic growth - in implementing corporate social responsibility effectively, fully observing laws and regulations, applying environmentally-friendly technology, developing green industries, and contributing to the green growth of each country in the world.
* Sean Doyle, EU Ambassador
I am persuaded that Green Biz 2009 will draw the attention of the Vietnamese and European business community, governments and academia in examining how to reconcile the tensions of Viet Nam’s rapid economic development and the need to minimise damage to the environment.
Viet Nam’s remarkable achievements in economic growth and poverty reduction should not be done at the expense of the environment. The protection of the environment is also becoming a pressing social and health issue, and a cause of concern for some of Viet Nam’s key exports like wood and furniture as well as services such as tourism.
* Erdal Elver, Siemens Viet Nam CEO
Climate change is probably the greatest and most demanding challenge confronting mankind. To mitigate global warming to the greatest extent possible, we must decouple economic growth from energy use and we must do this worldwide.
Two mega trends, however, make it increasingly difficult to separate economic growth from energy use; demographic change and increasing urbanisation have resulted in skyrocketing energy costs, shortages of natural resources, including water, cities whose existing infrastructures are overextended, and other myriad challenges.
Clearly, we have no choice but to rethink how we produce and use energy on a planet that will have 9 billion people, most of them living in large cities, by mid-century. We will have to answer the following tough questions: How will we cover the rising global demand for energy in the future? At the same time: How will we supply energy in a way that is compatible with the climate and environment, reliable and also affordable?
* Olivier Jacquet, Schneider Electric Country manager
In the last five years, annual electricity consumption in Viet Nam has risen by more than 15 per cent, while electricity production has increased 13 per cent. In the next decade, consumption growth is expected to reach up to 20 per cent per annum. In spite of numerous on-going investment projects, electrical capacity will not be able to met demand, due to the minimum 3-4 years needed to build and operate new power plants. A solution to this dilemma should be found quickly so it doesn’t impact the pace of Viet Nam’s economic development. For instance, existing electrical energy efficiency solutions could be implemented within a short lead time (three months). These solutions have proven to save 20 to 30 per cent of energy when applied to building, industry and infrastructure and have shown a return on investment within three years.