Government commits to support business in boosting sustainable development

The Government official made the affirmation at the 2016 Vietnam Corporate Sustainability Forum, which was held in Hanoi on November 8 by the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD) and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in coordination with the British Council and Unilever.

Deputy PM Dam, who is also Chairman of the National Council for Sustainable Development and Enhancing Competitiveness, asked Vietnamese businesses to focus on building and implementing creative business models that could benefit society.

The businesses were also requested to be active in their research activities in order to improve productivity and competitiveness, particularly those relating to green productivity and sustainable development.

He said that the Government hoped that businesses would pour more investment into education and healthcare, saying that the fields were sustainable for long-term investment.

At the forum, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Tran Hong Ha briefed the delegates on Vietnam's action plan to realise the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The plan mapped out strategic plans for methodically addressing climate change-related issues, reflecting Vietnam's responsibility to work together with the international community to cope with the challenge.

Minister Ha welcomed VBCSD's initiatives and programmes on encouraging the participation of the business community in dealing with climate change, such as the initiatives on economical and effective use of energy and recycled energy as well as programme on the circular economy.

Delegates at the forum took part in sessions and round-table discussions on pressing issues such as social enterprises towards sustainable development; transparency and integrity in business; sustainable agriculture; sustainability reporting and indicators of sustainable enterprises.

The forum, the third of its kind, was held to advance the role played by busineses in the country's sustainable development while providing a venue for businesses  and relevant stakeholders to update themselves on new topics and trends in sustainable development.

(Source: Nhandan Online)