Press conference on Green Economy Forum and Exhibition (GEFE) 2024 in Ho Chi Minh City, September 24 in Hanoi. (Photo: Van Chi)

Important platform to promote dialogue

Speaking at a press conference on September 24 to announce the upcoming Green Economy Forum & Exhibition 2024 (GEFE 2024), Bruno Jaspaert, the new Chairman of EuroCham, said: "Typhoon Yagi has caused widespread damage in 26 provinces and cities, not only physically but also mentally with a high number of casualties, reminding us that climate change is no longer a distant threat but an urgent crisis that requires immediate joint action.

The GEFE 2024 Green Economy Forum & Exhibition will be an important platform to promote dialogue between government leaders, businesses and international organizations to deal with the urgent realities of climate change. At the same time, GEFE is also a meeting place for European companies to introduce their most advanced solutions, helping Vietnam develop more sustainably in the future."

Mr. Bruno Jaspaert, new Chairman of EuroCham shared at the event. (Source: EuroCham)

The event will bring together leaders from the public and private sectors to exchange views on advancing climate change and building a more sustainable economy. It will also be an important platform for the Vietnamese Government and businesses to consider possible solutions and strategies for the next stage.

According to Mr. Vu Ba Phu, Director of the Trade Promotion Agency (Ministry of Industry and Trade), the Prime Minister has agreed in principle, allowing the Ministry and EuroCham to co-chair and organize the Green Economy Forum and Exhibition in 2024 to strengthen connectivity, promote investment and trade cooperation between Europe and Vietnam, and this is also a practical activity in the process of effectively implementing the National Growth Strategy for the period 2021 - 2030 that has been set out.

At GEFE 2024, discussions will focus on important topics, promoting solutions towards a sustainable future: climate resilience, digitalization for green finance and sustainable energy transition - key factors for Vietnam to achieve the Net-Zero goal by 2050 as committed at COP26.

Following the success of GEFE 2022, where Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and EU High Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius delivered keynote speeches, and the impressive GEF 2023 event, which saw the return of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh along with Executive Vice President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis and Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte, GEFE 2024 is expected to build on this momentum.

“These events not only foster important discussions, but also establish the spirit of collaboration needed to tackle the climate crisis. Building on that legacy, GEFE 2024 promises to bring even more perspectives and actionable solutions,” said Alain Cany, Co-Chair of the GEFE Organizing Committee and Chair of the EuroCham Advisory Board.

Building a greener economy for Vietnam

Themed “Creating a Green Future”, GEFE 2024 will focus on the urgent need to act on the impacts of climate change and build a greener economy for Vietnam. With nearly 30 sessions spanning 10 green thematic areas and a high-level opening session, GEFE 2024 is the ideal platform to explore a wide range of sustainable development topics. With over 8,000 guests from a wide range of sectors, including B2B and B2G dialogues, attendees will have the opportunity to interact with industry leaders and government officials.

The high-level opening session on October 21 will bring together senior leaders from the public and private sectors. Some of the speakers expected to be present include Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó, Finnish Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Tapani Tavio...

With the active participation of EU member states, and important contributions from the UK and Switzerland, GEFE 2024 will be a testament to the close partnership between Vietnam and Europe, promoting the common progress towards a green future, realizing Net-Zero.

The participation of high-level representatives from Europe will enrich the dialogue with global perspectives and practical solutions, affirming the important role of the international community - especially Europe - in supporting Vietnam's green transition.

The high-level opening session and thematic workshops of GEFE 2024 will focus on advancing the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), integrating sustainable energy solutions through the Power Plan VIII (PDP8), and implementing the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

In addition, topics such as Direct Power Purchase Agreements (DPPA), carbon pricing, green finance for climate change and transition, regenerative farming systems, green infrastructure (BGI) models and innovative stormwater management will bring practical solutions from leaders in both the public and private sectors...

Mr. Julien Guerrier, Ambassador, Head of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Vietnam speaking at the event. (Source: EuroCham)

Mr. Julien Guerrier, Ambassador, Head of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Vietnam, emphasized: “GEFE is becoming an important annual event of regional scale, especially in ASEAN. I am pleased to confirm that, in addition to the presence of many Ambassadors of EU Member States, I will be honored to be accompanied by EU Ambassador to ASEAN Surijo Seam and representatives of European Business Associations in the region.

I am very much looking forward to GEFE in October 2024. The EU-Vietnam partnership offers many opportunities for businesses on both sides. I reiterate: the EU is ready to support Vietnam in its transition to a greener future – Vietnam has great potential to achieve that.”

Speaking at the press conference, Mr. Christoph Prommersberger, Deputy Ambassador of the Netherlands to Vietnam, said that the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has promoted growth and brought bilateral trade turnover to 44 billion USD in the first 8 months of 2024, of which the Netherlands contributed 9 billion USD in trade.

As one of the EU's major investors in Vietnam with a total capital of 14.5 billion USD, the presence of Dutch enterprises and investors in Vietnam has brought green solutions and mechanisms to the Vietnamese market, contributing to promoting trade and investment growth between the EU and Vietnam.

According to Mr. Christoph Prommersberger, the EU is the leading continent in the green transition process, and in the coming time, many green standards and mechanisms that the EU has put forth will come into effect.

"All these mechanisms will require production to be greener, cleaner, and have lower carbon emissions. For Vietnamese goods exported to the EU market to continue to grow and meet new market requirements, investment in renewable energy, wastewater treatment, green logistics, green and smart agriculture is a prerequisite. Many businesses in Vietnam need to implement new conditions and standards, not only businesses exporting directly to the EU market but also secondary suppliers need to implement these standards," Mr. Christoph Prommersberger noted.