GEF 2023 attracted more than 700 attendees, highlighting the united commitment of businesses, international organizations, government agencies and communities in accelerating Vietnam's green transition.
GEF 2023 Closing Plenary Session
The event concluded with a plenary session with keynote speeches by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Executive Vice President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier and EuroCham Chairman Gabor Fluit.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed the importance of Vietnam’s partnership with the European Group in promoting green initiatives. He praised the EU’s commitment to a carbon-free future by 2050 and outlined Vietnam’s target of achieving net zero emissions by the same year. The Prime Minister also highlighted Vietnam’s renewable energy potential, calling for increased trade and investment cooperation, especially in areas such as renewable energy and digital transformation, so that both Vietnam and the EU can achieve mutual benefits.
Regarding the upcoming entry into force of the EU Green Deal regulations, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte highlighted the upcoming advantages for sustainable exporters and suppliers, calling on Vietnamese and Dutch manufacturers in Vietnam to take full advantage of these opportunities.
European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis highlighted the strong relationship between the EU and Vietnam. He praised the success of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, noting the significant growth of Vietnam’s exports to the EU. Mr. Dombrovskis highlighted the link between sustainable trade and a green future, recognizing the common goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. He supported increased cooperation around the EU Green Deal and green technologies, calling on Vietnam to maintain its commitments and support renewable energy for environmental and energy resilience.
EU Ambassador to Vietnam, Julien Guerrier, highlighted the shared vision of the EU and Vietnam for a green future. He praised Vietnam’s leadership in clean energy in Southeast Asia, while also highlighting the achievements of the European Green Deal and the importance of the circular economy.
In his speech, EuroCham Chairman Gabor Fluit commented: "EuroCham's commitment has only grown stronger, especially as we celebrate our 25th anniversary. From day one, our mission has been to combine European expertise with Vietnam's dynamism to achieve common goals. With the European Group's experience and depth in green transition and Vietnam's innovation, we have supported technology transfer, shared expertise, developed high-quality human resources and advanced green initiatives. We work closely with the government in the green transition, and more than that, we are also working closely with the Vietnamese business community, especially in key sectors such as textiles, footwear and seafood, to bring green technology and help them in their green transition. And we are sure that this is just the beginning of that journey of cooperation."
The event also featured speakers representing Vietnamese ministries and sectors, including:
- Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan
- Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc
- Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai
In the plenary session, business leaders gathered to provide insights on the green transition, integrating global perspectives with Vietnam’s sustainability journey. The discussion, moderated by EuroCham Advisory Board Chairman Alain Cany, featured the following panelists:
- Mr. Stuart Livesey, Managing Director of Copenhagen Offshore Partners (COP) Vietnam
- Ms. Sunita Lukkhoo, Director of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group for Southeast Asia and the Pacific
- Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai Thanh, Chairwoman of Refrigeration Electrical Engineering Corporation (REE)
- Mr. Olivier Rousselet, CEO of BNP Paribas Vietnam
- Ms. Carolyn Turk, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam
To further strengthen its relationship with the Vietnamese business community, EuroCham has exchanged memoranda of understanding with a number of industry associations, including:
Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (LEFASO) focuses on capacity building towards the regulations of the European Green Deal. Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS) on promoting Vietnam's green transition. Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE) co-organizes the Green Economy Forum & Exhibition (GEFE) 2024.
GEF 2023 Workshop Sessions
Attendees also had the opportunity to attend a 12-session forum, which covered topics such as renewable energy, green finance, emissions reduction and sustainable agriculture. More than 80 experts from various fields led the discussions, including:
- International corporations such as Airbus, BlueScope, CIP, DeHeus, EDP Renewables and Equinor.
- Global organizations such as the European Investment Bank (EIB), GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank.
- Vietnamese leaders and experts from universities such as Foreign Trade University, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam National University; organizations such as the Vietnam Green Building Council; and business leaders from Dragon Capital, Vietnam Airlines and VinaCapital.
GEF 2023 is held just one month before the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), a forum designed to foster cooperation between Europe and Vietnam, as well as shape Vietnam’s sustainability discourse in line with its climate commitments.
Building on the success of GEF 2023, EuroCham is proud to announce the return of the Green Economy Forum and Exhibition (GEFE) from 30 October to 1 November 2024, taking place in Southern Vietnam. The Forum follows the success of GEFE in November 2022.
