On Friday morning 13/01/2017, a workshop “Eco-Industrial Park for sustainable development: From concept to application” was held successfully in Hanoi. The workshop provided useful information and gave opportunity for experts to exchange opinions on implementing Eco-Industrial Park (EIP), enhancing communication as well as disseminating information about EIP and a roadmap for implementation in Vietnam. The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) jointly organized the workshop, through two focal agencies which were Institute of Regional Sustainable Development and the project “Implementation of Eco-Industrial Park Initiative for Sustainable Industrial Zones in Vietnam”.

There were about 70 participants at the workshop, including the attendance of Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Thuan, President of VASS, Mr. Tran Duy Dong, Director General of Department for Economic Zones Management – MPI, Mr. Jerome Stucki, UNIDO Head Quarter, Dr. Heinz Leuenberger, Chief Technical Adviser for the EIP Project and representatives from universities, research institutes and other international organizations.

In recent years, Vietnam has achieved remarkable achievements in development process, which improved living standard of people and reduced poverty rate in the country. Over this period, there were 300 industrial parks established, of which more than 220 industrial parks operating in all three focal economic zones in Northern, Central and Southern Vietnam. Industrial parks have made a very effective contribution in attracting FDI, accounting for a large share in total industrial production of the country, and creating jobs for the market. The rapid development of industrial production and industrial zones requires a new model for industrial parks which comply advanced standards on greenhouse gas emissions, waste treatment and “green” space, recycle technology and energy efficiency. EIP, hence, is a right direction towards a sustainable development.

Dr. Nguyen Dinh Chuc (left) and Ms. Elisabeth Muller (right) were giving their speech at the workshop

The workshop provided overview information about industrial parks development in Vietnam, project’s initial results of the transition into EIPs, standards and minimum requirements for EIPs, and suggestions for the case of Vietnam and international experiences the world. In addition, speakers also gave speeches about of industrial ecology theory and its application for sustainable development and knowledge about urban planning and management in “green” approach. The workshop received a lot of  comments and recommendations from both speakers and participants. They were a valuable source of reference for the Ministry of Planning and Investment to improve  legislation on EIP and build a roadmap for implementing EIPs in Vietnam in the future.

Workshop panorama 

*For more pictures of the workshop, please click here.

– Nguyen Thi Kim Thai-

*Workshop materials*

Workshop Agenda 13.1.2017

1. Overview of industrial park development in Vietnam – Mr. Tran Duy Dong

2. What is Eco-industrial Park and how should Vietnam move forwards? – Mr. Heinz Leuenbeger

3. Moving towards EIP international good practice examples – Ms. Elisabeth Muller

4. Industrial ecology and sustainable development – Mr. Nguyen Dinh Chuc

5. EIP and green economy in Vietnam – Mr. Tran Minh

6. Eco city sustainable development– Ms. Do Tu Lan

7.Wastewater and sludge management in Eco industrial zones – Mr. Nguyen Viet Anh