On March 18, 2022 in Ha Long city, Quang Ninh province the Ministry of Planning and Investment held a consultation workshop in the Northern region to finalize the National Green Growth Action Plan (VGGAP) to implement the National Green Growth Strategy (VGGS). H.E Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dzung in his opening remark emphasized the critical role of the VGGS in realizing the goal of the 13th Party Congress that set Vietnam to become a high-income developed country by 2045, strongly promote the transformation of a green economy, environmental protection and inclusive development and social justice, and at the same time implement the Vietnam’s pledge to Net Zero emissions by 2050 at the 26th United Nations climate change conference (COP26).

The draft VGGAP details groups of tasks and solutions, especially the draft has five breakthrough points including: structure of task groups with high feasibility on green growth GHG emission reduction/absorption mainstreamed in goals for key industries, diversifying resource mobilization for green growth, strongly institutionalizing the coordination, monitoring and evaluation mechanism for green growth through integrating in national statistical indicators, updating and amending policies and laws to promote green investment and procurement according to the national green taxonomies, and building a roadmap to concretize green growth with a long-term vision to reach Net Zero Emissions by 2050.

Delegates attending the workshop highly appreciated the approach and structural content of the Draft VGGAP that is inclusive serving as the basis for integration into action plans of ministries (Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, State bank of Vietnam…). Workshop participants commented to align and harmonize the Draft to resolve bottlenecks to institutionalize proper regulatory mechanisms and financial measures to encourage investment in technology, green finance, integrate important indicators monitoring measurements. Representatives of localities from Quang Ninh and Vinh Phuc provinces shared their successful lessons when implementing the VGGS period 2012-2020, a bold transformation of the grey economy (based on coal mining, mineral exploitation, low value-intensive labor industries) to a green economy (eco tourism, high-tech industry, smart logistics, sustainable agriculture with high added value) to help achieve outstanding socio-economic and environmental results. These inspirational achievements thereby affirm the confidence and determination to implement the VGGAP to local businesses and people, contributing to the realization of sustainable national development goals.

Representatives of international organizations: WB, GGGI, UNDP, AfD, JICA, KfW, UNIDO, GIZ and representatives from business, enterprises also expressed their appreciation to MPI’s draft VGGAP detailing the objectives of Vietnam align with global commitment to respond to climate change. Speaking at the event, Mr. Sebastian Paust, representative of the Embassy of Germany, affirmed the importance of the VGGAP and strongly committed to support Vietnam – as one of Germany’s strategic global partner- in concretizing groups of tasks and solutions to promote green economy and green finance, using eco-friendly technologies, further promoting local and international best experiences such as the Just Transition Mechanism to ensures no one is left behind. Representatives of UNDP, WB, GGGI, GIZ organizations affirmed to continue support the MPI and ministries and localities in Vietnam to implement the VGGAP. The Drafting Board acknowledges the comments and suggestions for the VGGAP at the Northern, Central workshops and the upcoming workshop to be held the South to finalize the VGGAP for submission to the Prime Minister in April 2022.

The workshop is part of a series of activities supported and coordinated by the GIZ Macroeconomic Reform/Green Growth Program with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, including technical assistance on the development of VGGS, VGGAP and local action plans on green growth, monitoring and assessment indicators of green growth; green finance, and green public procurement. For more information, please visit us at : http://gizmacro.ciem.org.vn/