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Green trend in industrial parks

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1 month ago

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After nearly 30 years, Vietnamese industrial parks have contributed significantly to the country’s economic development. However, industrial parks have not paid much attention to green and sustainable development to reduce the negative impacts on the environment.

Green and sustainable development requires industrial parks to apply measures to encourage enterprises to switch to clean, environmentally friendly and resource-efficient manufacturing.

However, industrial parks across the country are still struggling to balance between economic benefits and the environment due to numerous obstacles.

Identifying “bottlenecks”

Industrial parks play an important role in diversifying investment in infrastructure development, manufacturing, and business, and are attractive destinations for both domestic and foreign investors.

Green, clean and ecological industrial parks are an inevitable trend around the globe. The development of sustainable industrial parks commences from industrial ecology and the transition from the linear economic model to the circular economy, in which the waste and byproducts of an enterprise become the inputs for another one’s production process.

These are urgent and mandatory requirements for the manufacturing sector to develop sustainably, helping to realise Vietnam’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050. To meet these requirements, the government and enterprises need to join hands since financial resources and regulations are the current bottlenecks to the transition.

Tran Thi To Loan, Deputy Director of Sao Do Investment Group, owner of Hai Phong-based Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Park, said cost is the biggest hurdle to the transition from conventional industrial parks to sustainable ones. She noted that the two models are fundamentally different in terms of approach, goal, and environmental and social impacts. One only focuses on maximising profits and economic growth with low spending on the environment, while the other is designed and managed with the combined goals of economic development, environmental protection, and social responsibility.

A green, ecological and sustainable industrial park requires synchronous investment from the beginning with huge costs. However most industrial parks in Vietnam are developed in a rolling process, so they are not truly environmentally friendly and resource-saving.

Legal bottlenecks and unclear regulations also make changing the model of industrial parks in Vietnam difficult. Loan stated that if regulations are not specified, it is difficult to encourage enterprises to change.

Associate Professor Nguyen Quang Tuyen from the Hanoi Law University shared the same view, that the current legal network lacks specific regulations on developing sustainable industrial parks. In addition, too many laws governing the operation of industrial parks discourage many enterprises.

Prioritising green and ecological industrial parks

Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Nguyen Quang Vinh said, that building sustainable industrial parks will bring many substantial benefits, not only economic but also environmental and social.

Specifically, it will reduce the environmental impact, save energy and resources, increase innovation and cooperation, enhance reputation and brand image, create a better working environment in industrial parks, and offer many benefits to the community.

However, enterprises’ awareness about this matter remains weak, with up to 50% of surveyed enterprises in industrial parks having responded that they have not heard about sustainable and ecological industrial parks. Therefore, the government should soon introduce measures to address obstacles and facilitate industrial parks in their transition.

For enterprises, investing in sustainable development requires huge financial resources but that should not be the reason to stay outside the trend. With about 418 established industrial parks, 298 of which have been put into operation, covering 92,200 hectares, Vietnam assessed sufficient space for developing green, ecological, and sustainable industrial parks.

The transition to the green and ecological industrial park model also helps attract a new wave of investment, especially high-quality foreign direct investment. Therefore, first of all, investors of industrial parks need to get updated on the government’s orientation to understand the benefits of changing the model and proactively build a roadmap for green and ecological industrial parks.

Enterprises in industrial parks need to focus on changing their production methods to maximise resources and make their production cleaner, apply technology solutions that use less carbon and chemicals, and use renewable and environmentally friendly energy to reduce operating costs and enhance competitiveness.

Afterwards, enterprises need to increase mobilising resources from international organisations, trade associations, climate finance funds, energy transition partners, commercial banks and green finance organisations, to develop green industrial parks. They should also cooperate to share production infrastructure, reuse production materials, or work with third-party enterprises outside industrial parks to realise industrial symbiosis connections.

Associate Professor Nguyen Dinh Tho from the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment shared that it is necessary to plug the legal loopholes and remove the bottlenecks to the industrial park transition process, in which specific institutions should be introduced as the basis for enterprises to implement and operate. More importantly, the government needs to supplement preferential policies on land, finance, corporate income tax, land rents, and credit access, in changing the production model from “brown” to “green”.

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Billionaire Trần Bá Dương’s VND 2,000 Billion, 200-Hectare Industrial Park in Thái Bình Could Begin Operations This Year

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3 weeks ago

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March 31, 2025

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The Thaco – Thái Bình Industrial Park, covering more than 194 hectares with an investment of over VND 2,100 billion, is expected to become operational within this year, according to the development plan.

Recently, provincial leaders of Thái Bình conducted an on-site inspection of land clearance efforts and infrastructure construction progress at the Thaco – Thái Bình Industrial Park located in Quỳnh Phụ District.

To date, Quỳnh Phụ District has completed compensation and land clearance for nearly 192 hectares of agricultural land, involving the land recovery of 1,067 households to hand over to the investor for project implementation.

Currently, the district is focusing on clearing the remaining land, involving 94 households in Lương Cầu Hamlet, An Cầu Commune. At the same time, it is coordinating with the electricity sector to relocate a 220kV high-voltage power line.

On the investor’s side, groundwork construction is underway, including roadbeds, internal roads, stormwater and wastewater drainage systems, and communication infrastructure within the industrial park.

The Thaco – Thái Bình Industrial Park is a specialized high-tech agricultural industrial park proposed by THACO Group (chaired by billionaire Trần Bá Dương) since 2017, originally planned to cover 250 hectares. By July 2017, the provincial authorities agreed to incorporate the project into Thái Bình’s industrial development master plan.

In August 2020, THACO officially broke ground on the industrial park’s infrastructure. A year later, in August 2021, the project’s investment certificate was revised, confirming a total investment of over VND 2,100 billion and a land area of more than 194 hectares. The project is being developed across An Thái, An Ninh, and An Cầu communes in Quỳnh Phụ District.

According to the roadmap, the investor is determined to complete and officially launch the project in 2025.

The Thaco – Thái Bình Industrial Park is designed as a dedicated high-tech agricultural zone, featuring various functional subdivisions including an administration center, agro-food processing zone, high-tech agricultural training center, experimental farms, agricultural materials production area, and a cargo transport port.

This project is considered one of the key developments in Thái Bình Province, playing a crucial role in the region’s socio-economic growth strategy.

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Carbon labels: a gateway to high-value global markets

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4 weeks ago

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March 27, 2025

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In an era where sustainability is not just a choice but a requirement, carbon labelling is emerging as a crucial factor for exporters.

Carbon labels: a gateway to high-value global markets
Vu Trung Kien, director Climate Change Resilience Centre

Countries like the US and the European Union are implementing stringent carbon regulations, such as the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and increasing scrutiny on supply chain emissions.

Vietnamese businesses that fail to adopt carbon labelling risk losing access to lucrative markets. However, those that proactively integrate carbon footprint transparency into their products can gain a competitive advantage, enhance brand reputation, and secure long-term profitability.

Across the world, forward-thinking countries have embraced carbon labelling as a strategic tool for trade success. These efforts have not only helped businesses comply with regulations but have also opened doors to new investment and consumer markets.

Japan has implemented a government-backed carbon labelling programme that allows companies to display detailed carbon footprint information on their products. This has strengthened consumer trust and made Japanese goods more attractive in environmentally conscious markets such as the EU and North America.

The South Korean government incentivises businesses to adopt carbon labelling through tax benefits and green export support schemes. Companies that participate gain access to new trading partners, particularly in Europe, where sustainable supply chains are becoming the norm. Thailand, a key competitor to Vietnam, has integrated carbon labelling across industries such as food processing, textiles, and electronics. Thai exporters, particularly in agriculture, now benefit from preferential treatment in European supermarkets and trade agreements.

These case studies highlight an important lesson: carbon labelling is not just about compliance – it is a business strategy that enhances market access, builds consumer confidence, and future-proofs exports.

For businesses in Vietnam, waiting until carbon labelling becomes a legal requirement would be a mistake. Many international corporations have already set ambitious sustainability targets, requiring suppliers to provide verifiable carbon footprint data. Voluntary carbon labelling can position Vietnamese enterprises as reliable, future-ready partners.

It works by companies conducting a life cycle assessment to measure emissions from production to disposal. Products are labelled with a carbon footprint score, helping consumers and businesses make informed choices. Labels are often verified by third-party certifiers to ensure credibility and compliance with global standards.

The benefits include a boost for green supply chains. Companies like Nestlé and Unilever prioritise suppliers that provide carbon footprint transparency. Vietnamese food and beverage exporters can gain an edge by aligning with such demands.

Businesses with carbon-reduction strategies attract funding from international banks and investors that focus on increasing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investment.

It also leads to improved consumer trust and higher sales. Studies indicate that climate-conscious consumers prefer labelled products. In markets like the EU, organic rice, seafood, and textiles from carbon-labelled brands command higher prices.

For Vietnamese companies looking to integrate carbon labelling into their strategy, a step-by-step approach can make the transition smooth and effective.

Pilot carbon labelling programmes in key sectors are critical, with a focus on industries where carbon labelling is already gaining momentum, such as textiles, seafood, agriculture, and furniture.

The process must start with one or two high-export products and conduct a carbon footprint analysis to understand emissions sources. Industry associations must also work with international partners to ensure the label aligns with EU and US standards.

Collaboration with certification bodies is also key, and partnering with recognised organisations such as the Carbon Trust (UK), TÜV Rheinland (Germany), or SGS (Switzerland) for certification is advised, as is engaging with Vietnamese regulatory bodies to advocate for government incentives similar to South Korea’s model.

Another vital part of the process is to leverage green financing and government incentives to access ESG-linked loans and grants that support supply chain improvements. Alongside this, there needs to be a move to propose carbon labelling incentive programmes through the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry or the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The future of Vietnam’s export competitiveness is green. The world is moving towards sustainable trade, and carbon-labelling is no longer optional for businesses that want to thrive in international markets. By learning from successful global initiatives, Vietnamese companies can turn carbon transparency into an economic advantage rather than a compliance burden.

The time to act is now. Companies that lead in carbon labelling will not only future-proof their businesses but also shape Vietnam’s reputation as a responsible trade leader.

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Industrial parks in Binh Duong increase FDI attraction by 232%

Published

4 weeks ago

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March 27, 2025

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In the first quarter of 2025, an additional 588 million USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) poured into Binh Duong Province’s industrial parks, marking a 232% increase compared to the same period in 2024 and reaching 53.43% of the 2025 annual plan, as reported by the provincial Management Board of Industrial Parks on March 26.

Of the 588 million in FDI USD invested in industrial parks during the first quarter, there were 25 new investment projects with a total registered capital of more than 60.2 million USD and 26 projects with additional capital adjustments, contributing nearly 528 million USD in increased capital.

With this positive investment attraction in the first quarter, industrial parks in Binh Duong have so far attracted 3,252 active projects, including 2,561 FDI projects with total registered capital of 31.57 billion USD and 691 domestic investment projects with total registered capital of 93.664 trillion VND.

According to the Management Board of Industrial Parks in Binh Duong, 10 new projects have become operational in the first quarter. Currently, the province’s industrial parks have 2,706 active business and production projects, including 507 domestic projects and 2,199 FDI projects.

With effective operations, the estimated business and production targets for the first quarter of 2025 in the province’s industrial parks exceeded 11 billion USD, increasing by 7.72% compared to the same period last year and reaching 31.49% of the annual plan. Export turnover surpassed 6.34 billion USD, up 9.22% year on year, achieving 25.36% of the annual plan. Taxes and budget contributions reached nearly 175.4 million USD, increasing by 10.23% year on year and fulfilling 25% of the annual target.

Binh Duong currently has 29 industrial parks with a total planned area of 12,746 hectares. Of which, 28 industrial parks are already operational, covering a total of 12,046 hectares.

According to the Binh Duong Provincial Master Plan for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, which was approved by the prime minister, the province is planned to develop 48 to 50 industrial parks with a total planned area of 25,000 hectares.

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