(MPI) - According to the report of the Ministry of Planning and Investment on the Assessment of the implementation of the sustainable development goals in 2023 (SDGs Report 2023), ministries, sectors and localities continue to seriously implement the assigned tasks according to the National Action Plan to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The implementation of strategies and policies in sectors/areas continues to pay more attention and better integrate vulnerable groups such as the poor, ethnic minorities, children and women to ensure the spirit of "No one is left behind".

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The scale, potential and competitiveness of the economy have been raised; the autonomy of the economy has been improved. Science, technology and innovation have been increasingly closely linked and have impacted socio-economic development and sustainable development in many aspects, contributing to the strong development of knowledge-intensive and technology-intensive industries, which are the main factors in productivity growth. The quality of economic growth has been gradually enhanced, the efficiency of using input factors for the economy has been significantly improved, the openness of the economy has increased and attracted large foreign direct investment, the private sector has increasingly contributed to promoting the country's economic development.

Policies on sustainable poverty reduction, social security, social protection; overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, stabilizing life after storms and floods; work for the elderly; protecting and caring for children; gender equality and for the advancement of women continue to receive attention and direction... contributing to the implementation of social progress and justice, harmoniously linked with economic development, ensuring social safety and order.

The implementation of global goals/commitments on environmental protection, natural resources, biodiversity and climate change response continues to be promoted. In particular, Vietnam's commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 continues to be concretized through the announcement of the Resource Mobilization Plan for JETP implementation at COP 28.

Our position and power in the international arena are increasing. The Vietnam - United Nations relationship has developed well; Vietnam has participated more and more actively and responsibly in United Nations forums, bilateral and multilateral forums in the region and globally. High-level visits by State leaders have been effectively utilized to promote economic cooperation with partners, remove some existing difficulties and obstacles in projects, and create breakthroughs in economic cooperation in strategic infrastructure. The work of mobilizing multinational corporations to invest and do business in Vietnam has been promoted.

The implementation of sustainable development goals in 2023 continued to achieve certain results, reflected in the following outstanding indicators: Multidimensional poverty reduction rate reached 3.2%; Unemployment rate reached 2.1%; The rate of operating industrial parks with centralized wastewater treatment facilities in operation meeting environmental standards reached 91.6%; GDP growth reached 5.05%; The rate of communes meeting rural standards reached 78%; Forest coverage continued to maintain the set target, reaching 42.02%; The trade balance continued to record a trade surplus for the 8th consecutive year with a record surplus estimated at 28 billion USD, 2.3 times higher than in 2022.

However, in addition to the achievements, the report also pointed out difficulties and challenges such as social policies have not covered all target groups; implementation is not synchronous; some targets are difficult to achieve. The quality of human development is still low; the gap in living standards between regions and target groups is still large, poverty reduction results are not sustainable, especially in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, the rate of re-poverty is still high; there are still complex factors that hinder the improvement of human resource quality, increase labor productivity, affecting rapid and sustainable socio-economic development.

The labor market faces the risk of having a surplus of low-skilled workers but lacking high-skilled workers; urbanization and migration trends create great pressure on infrastructure, environment and social security; rapid population aging puts great pressure on the social security system.

The reality of economic growth is still facing challenges such as low productivity, quality and competitiveness of the economy, the quality of human resources has not met the demand, limited development of science and technology has not created growth momentum, economic restructuring associated with growth model innovation is still slow, connection between regions and economic sectors is not really effective; especially the connection and spread between foreign investment sector and domestic economic sector is still slow; the growth model based on science, technology and innovation is still limited, growth depends heavily on increased investment, while the demand for investment capital for socio-economic development is very large, state capital, preferential capital, foreign registered investment capital and aid all tend to decrease. The growth model needs to continue to innovate strongly on the basis of exploiting new competitive advantages, creating new growth momentum.

Sources of environmental pollution are increasing rapidly in number, scale and level of negative impact on the environment, causing soil, water and air pollution in many places, some to a serious level. Industrial production facilities of high pollution type account for a larger proportion than facilities of low pollution type, environmentally friendly. Risk of shifting and forming new production activities causing environmental pollution from urban areas to rural areas. Risk of secondary environmental pollution from solar power generation projects, hydropower projects.

Air pollution is still complicated, especially fine dust pollution in big cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which tends to increase at certain times of the day and some days of the year. Domestic wastewater and wastewater from craft villages and industrial clusters are increasingly generated while the collection and treatment infrastructure has not met the requirements. Deforestation and illegal sand, stone and gravel mining are still occurring in many localities.

Climate change, natural disasters, and floods are evolving in a complex manner, with an increasing trend in quantity and severity, affecting people's lives and livelihoods, leading to a high risk of poverty and re-poverty, and affecting the implementation of the goal of reducing the poverty rate and ensuring social security. Awareness in environmental management and protection and the marine environment in many places is not high; the use of materials that are harmful to the environment is still common, especially plastic waste, leading to pressure on the environment and the marine environment. Current technology does not meet the requirements of waste management and treatment.

Data for monitoring, supervising and evaluating the implementation of SDGs is still limited, in which data on indicators related to the environment, climate change, sustainable production and consumption, and natural resources have not improved much.

Based on the results achieved and current difficulties and challenges, the report provides directions and solutions to promote the implementation of SDGs. Accordingly, continue to seriously implement the National Action Plan to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, focusing resources to complete the Roadmap for the implementation of sustainable development goals by 2030. Promote the implementation of strategies and policies in all sectors and fields; cross-cutting strategies/policies such as the National Strategy on climate change, green growth; strategies/policies related to private support, attracting high-quality foreign investment, innovation and development of science and technology, training high-quality human resources... to contribute to achieving SDGs goals.

Effectively use and promote the disbursement of public investment capital, especially capital from the 3 National Target Programs. Prioritize and allocate resources for targets that are still facing many difficulties and challenges, especially targets related to environmental protection, natural resources, ecosystems and climate change adaptation and mitigation. Allocate resources to regularly and periodically collect data, monitor and report on the implementation of SDGs. Create and perfect the legal corridor to exploit, promote and develop new trends, spaces and development drivers; seize opportunities, attract external resources to develop the digital economy, green economy, circular economy, green energy; participate more deeply in global value chains.

Continue to promote information and communication on sustainable development; promote information exchange and coordination between ministries, branches, localities and relevant organizations and agencies in implementing SDGs. Regularly exchange and update with international organizations and development partners on the results of implementing SDGs sustainable development goals and targets. Strengthen international cooperation to access international financial/technical resources for implementing SDGs in Vietnam./.

Tung Linh

Ministry of Planning and Investment