Conference discusses development of eco-industrial parks

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Illustrative photo

The report, part of their joint project on industrial resources efficiency and clean energy, set out criteria and necessary steps to turn Vietnamese industrials parks (IPs) into eco-ones. It showed opportunities and challenges facing the work and put forth measures to build an ecosystem inside IPs.

Vietnam is home to about 330 IPs. They play an importance role in attracting foreign direct investment, increasing exports and creating jobs. However, they consume a large amount of resources and cause negatives impacts on the environment and nearby communities. 

Navneet Chadha, IFC Resource Efficiency Lead for East Asia and Pacific, said industrial symbiosis concerning waste exchange and recycling is an effective environmental solution and offer new business opportunities. If an IP recycles its wastewater for production, it could reduce the volume of wastewater discharged into the environment by up to 40% and cut clean water costs, he elaborated.

Vu Tuong Anh, an IFC expert, said eco-IPs involve effective environmental and resources management, cleaner production at each company inside the IPs, and networks of industrial symbiosis between companies and the IPs’ green infrastructure.

The eco-IPs model has been operated successfully in many countries, including China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, and the US. Recently, on May 22, the Vietnamese Government issued Decree 82/2018/ND-CP on IP and economic zone management, which clarifies specifications of, as well as development goals and favorable policies for eco-IPs in Vietnam.

Vuong Minh Hieu, a representative from the Ministry of Investment and Planning, said turning available IPs into eco-IPs will help translate Decree 82/2018/ND-CP into reality. 

According to Hieu, as a result, enterprises will see their costs cut, and profits and competitiveness improved, while the Vietnamese industry sector will ensure its sustainable growth in line with the country’s commitments in many free trade agreements it has signed.

In the next five years, Vietnam will prioritise building a guiding document for eco-IPs and builds databases supporting the changing process nationwide.