From 13 to 17 September, Ho Chi Minh City played host to the 4th Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum (HEF) at the Grand Meeting Hall.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of External Relations (DER) organized the event, which bore the theme “Green Growth – Towards Net Zero”. It aimed to gather insights and craft strategies for more sustainable urban development in Vietnam.

The forum saw participation from a wide range of stakeholders, officials from various ministries, and a sizable contingent of 1,200 to 1,500 participants from the business community and international institutions. 

Key discussions during the forum centered on:

• Understanding green growth and the circular economy for major cities.
• Designing circular economy systems focused on net zero.
• Creating green growth policies and related corporate goals.
• Identifying essential resources for a circular economy targeting net zero.
• Sharing global experiences in promoting green growth.
• Assessing the current state in Ho Chi Minh City and exploring green growth strategies.

One of the noteworthy segments of the event was a meeting held at the Independence Palace, dubbed the ” 100 CEOs – Tea Connect”, where Ho Chi Minh City’s leaders engaged with 100 CEOs of foreign and local companies involved in the green and circular economy sectors.

Mr. Phan Van Mai,  Chairman of HCMC People’s Committee, opened the session with a warm welcome. His remarks not only provided an insightful overview of the city’s vision but also shed light on the vast opportunities for cooperation with international partners in driving the social and economic development of Ho Chi Minh City. This vibrant dialogue was moderated by Mr. Vo Van Hoan, Vice Chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee, who navigated the conversation toward innovative solutions and collaborative efforts.

At this gathering, EuroCham Chairman Gabor Fluit spoke about EuroCham’s role in supporting Vietnam’s business environment, especially in Ho Chi Minh City. He highlighted the importance of transitioning to greener practices. He also touched upon the challenges and opportunities presented by the EU’s Green Deal regulations and emphasized the need for closer cooperation between EU and Vietnam. Concluding his speech, Mr. Fluit introduced upcoming EuroCham events, the Green Economy Forum (GEF) 2023 and the Green Economy Forum & Exhibition (GEFE) 2024.

Additionally, both Mr. Fluit and  Mr. Erick Contreras , EuroCham’s Green Growth Sector Committee (GGSC) Chairman and BASF Vietnam’s Managing Director, introduced upcoming EuroCham events, the Green Economy Forum (GEF) 2023 and the Green Economy Forum & Exhibition (GEFE) 2024.

Read EuroCham Chairman Gabor Fluit’s speech (EN): CLICK HERE

Read EuroCham’s Green Growth Sector Committee (GGSC) Chairman and BASF Vietnam’s Managing Director Erick Contreras’s speech (EN): CLICK HERE