- The Saigon Times Daily: EuroCham says the focus of the third edition of Green-Biz is more about the practical challenges and outcomes. So, what are the major threats to Vietnam’s sustainable development and how can European green solutions help with these?

- Preben Hjortlund: Green business solutions are so much more than just adapting the latest technology or high-cost investments. Sustainability in business is the must of our days: organizing an enterprise internally to avoid waste of resources or adapting to international environmental, labor or product safety standards. The outcome is more competitiveness, better products for consumers, better working conditions and a thoughtful use of our resources. This all means prosperity and profits for the society.

The biggest threats beside these ‘business concerns’ are occurring for Vietnam’s next generation: we are talking of the natural environment which is being polluted; we can see day-by-day inefficient use of resources and pollution of water-reservoir or even depletion of one-time-given resources; it is their health which is endangered by air pollution, harmful nutrition or hazardous waste, environmental conditions or climate change effects on Vietnam.

Vietnamese enterprises are now grappling with many problems. Do you think they have time to think of green growth and technology?

- While companies are struggling with tough reality, there seems to be no time to ask a basic question: Why are they in difficulties? Our understanding of sustainable business is also to avoid business practices which have bad outcomes but are sustainable in the long run. Difficult economic times are always a chance to make things differently. And I hear all around that times are changing and the challenges are huge; but I always reply and hear more often nowadays that challenges are also chances. Many of EuroCham member companies have successfully implemented sustainable business solutions. They had to learn to adapt in a tough European and global market but succeeded. They can be valuable long-term partners for Vietnamese enterprises and help adapting the many steps which are necessary to adopt. One of these many steps can be implemented from Vietnamese enterprises: employ the best-educated and open-minded staff. Rather spend one dollar more for the production process or the necessary input for production for gaining long-term profits which benefits more stakeholders than only one who earns lots of money now but doesn’t care about environmental, labor or social issues.

European technologies are recognized worldwide but they are very expensive. Is there any way to match European solutions with the financial capacity of Vietnamese users?

- Beside the fact that prices have always to be considered at a life-cycle content and not in a short-biased ad hoc comparison, we have invited several organizations who can provide financial support for initial investments. Especially long-term strategies and green growth prospects are seen very positive from European partners in financing. Only short-term high-profit-making business concepts without European partners are less likely to get financial support, but for all others I am convinced there will be money to facilitate.

It seems difficult for a developing country like Vietnam to achieve economic growth and sustainable development. In what way do you suggest Vietnam will be able to realize the two goals at the same time, given the fact that the nation still has woes to address?

- We are pretty much aware of the macro-economic woes as you put it. Look at the huge troubles of many European nations, nevertheless green growth is a tremendous chance to get another boost in competitiveness, exports and attracting foreign direct investment. This is, from our point of view, exactly one important point which the Government of Vietnam wants to achieve by pushing the Green Growth Strategy.

According to development economists, the bi-polar point of view on growth and sustainability is very often the core problem why growth cannot be sustained. Growth has always had to be sustainable and ‘green’. Focusing on the right growth industries instead of cheap labor and depletion of resources might not bring world-record growth rates today but stable and sustainable growth in the future.

What do you think will drive Vietnam’s green growth on a right track?

- When we think back and evaluate the situation around the time of our first Green-Biz 2009 and 2011, the general conclusion seems to be positive. Since that time the public awareness and practical actions towards a green economy have been recognized. Governmental decision-makers have acknowledged the importance of businesses and their impact - or better low-impact - on the environment.

Vietnam has got a window of opportunity to attract investments with good socio-economic and environmental impact. But we all must not forget that this window is closing already: not only the environmental and climate change clock but also the possibility for collecting the good fruits on the global investment market urge us to act.

One example where we see massive potential but also necessity in Vietnam would be a ‘one-stop-shop’ or ‘fast-track’ for getting approvals when engaging in green growth. We are talking of enterprises or individuals who are deeply engaged in the green business sector when planning a building or even having a regional development schedule. When they follow green standards which can be certified by an independent agency, they should be eligible for a less bureaucratic and time-consuming process. We are discussing these things within the Vietnam Green Building Council and the potential certification incentives for green building projects. In EuroCham’s annual Whitebook, we have summarized many points which include suggestions like this, and in the trade-recommendations for 2014 we will even introduce a chapter focusing on sustainability.

But as a wisdom of life and science we all know that internal drivers are much more effective than anyone suggesting or showing from outside. The real driver comes from inside Vietnam: from the Vietnamese population, the Government of Vietnam and the support for the Green Growth Strategy from businesses and media alike.

Source: SaigonTimes.