Organizations like the Ho Chi Minh City Green Business Association (HGBA) have the potential to significantly impact Vietnam’s green transition and sustainable development, according to a representative from EuroCham.
As Vietnam continues to demonstrate strong commitments to sustainable development through national strategies and numerous international cooperation efforts, aligning with global expectations for a green and sustainable economy is seen as a key pathway to enhancing competitiveness—both at the national level and within individual enterprises. This was the perspective shared by Mr. Erick Contreras, Vice Chairman of EuroCham (the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam), during a green transition panel held on the afternoon of June 10 in Ho Chi Minh City.
The EuroCham Vice Chairman, who is currently based in Ho Chi Minh City, emphasized during the forum:
“In the future, we hope to collaborate with the Ho Chi Minh City Green Business Association (HGBA) and other like-minded organizations to advance these initiatives for a greener Vietnam.”
Mr. Contreras shared these insights to illustrate how the Ho Chi Minh City business community can enhance its own competitiveness while contributing to Vietnam’s sustainable development efforts.
In addition, the Vice Chairman of EuroCham pointed out that waste and garbage management in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and many other localities in Vietnam still faces significant challenges. For instance, the lack of proper waste separation at source has resulted in inefficient recycling of materials, while the cost of recycling remains high—not to mention the increased expenses for waste collection compared to areas with effective source separation systems.
According to Mr. Contreras, Vietnam produces around 68,000 tons of waste per day, with urban areas—particularly Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi—accounting for over 38,000 tons. Although the national waste collection rate exceeds 88%, most of the waste is still sent to landfills, many of which do not meet sanitary standards. This not only wastes valuable land resources for landfilling but also squanders recyclable materials that hold real value.
He emphasized that businesses investing in waste collection and recycling face high operational costs, making the transition toward sustainable practices financially burdensome.
Meanwhile, Mr. Dinh Hong Ky, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Green Business Association, affirmed that the association’s upcoming programs include sustainability forums, green technology transfer consulting, and green finance promotion. These initiatives are designed to provide practical support to businesses facing financial challenges during their green transition process.
Thus, financial constraints during green transformation can be partly addressed through HGBA’s planned activities, Mr. Ky added.
Established in 1998, EuroCham (the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam) serves as the voice of the European business community and is one of the largest foreign business associations in the country, with over 1,400 member companies. It functions as an “association of associations,” comprising nine national and regional business chambers: Belgium-Luxembourg, Portugal, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Nordic countries.
With offices in both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, EuroCham represents a wide range of companies—from small and medium enterprises to large multinational corporations. It plays a pivotal role in shaping policy discussions, promoting trade and investment, and strengthening economic relations between Europe and Vietnam, particularly within the framework of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
