Illustrative photo (Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Developing eco-industrial parks isamong important programmes within the Switzerland’s cooperation and developmentframework for Vietnam, Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam Beatrice Maser Mallor saidat a seminar in Hanoi on June 12.
The Ambassador reiterated the Swiss Government’s commitmentto assisting Vietnam in switching to a greener economy.
The seminar was held to look at the outcome of an initiativeon developing eco-IPs towards sustainable IPs in Vietnam which has beenimplemented since 2014 by the Ministry of Planning and Investment and theUnited Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).
The project had a total investment of 5 million USD sourcedby non-refundable aid from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and SwissGovernment.
It was piloted at Khanh Phu and Gian Khau IPs in thenorthern province of Ninh Binh, Hoa Khanh IP in the central city of Da Nang andTra Noc 1 and Tra Noc 2 IPs in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.
Participating companies were provided with technology andclean production solutions to save energy, water, and costs of raw materials,as well as ensure chemical safety and wastewater management.
As a result, they have so far saved over 22,000 MWh ofelectricity, 600,000 m3 of clean water, 140TJ of fossil fuel, and nearly 3,600tonnes of chemical and waste, equivalent to over 6.5 million USD each year.
Tran Duy Dong, Director of the Ministry’s Department for Localand Regional Economy, praised positive impacts brought about by the project.
He said the initiative has led to the issuance ofregulations on eco-IPs as part of the Government’s Decree 82 on the managementof industrial and economic zones, which took effect in July last year. Thedecree was the first legal document in Vietnam that regulates the shifting fromnormal industrial parks to eco-ones.
Kamal Malhotra, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, said theinitiative is in line with the UN’s strategic plan in Vietnam for 2017-2021,which prioritises climate adaptation capacity and partnerships for asustainable and inclusive economic growth model.
UNIDO representative in Vietnam Le Thi Thanh Thao stressedthe success of the project will create a foundation for the replication of theeco-industrial park model across Vietnam in the future, contributing to protectingthe environment and attracting quality investment, particularly from theprivate sector.-VNA
VNA
