On the afternoon of June 10, 2025, at the GEM Center, the founding congress of the Ho Chi Minh City Green Business Association. Ho Chi Minh City (HGBA) has taken place, officially marking an important turning point in the process of creating a sustainable business community, environmentally and socially responsible.
At the Congress, Mr. Dinh Hong Ky – Chairman of the Board of Directors of Secoin Joint Stock Company, one of the pioneering entrepreneurs with many outstanding initiatives on green building materials was elected as Chairman of HGBA for the first term (2025 – 2030).
The fact that Mr. Dinh Hong Ky takes on this role is not only a recognition of his capacity and influence in green development, but also shows the strong determination of the business community of Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City in transitioning to a green and low-emission economic model.
The birth of HGBA is not only the establishment of a professional organization, but also a practical step to realize national commitments on carbon neutrality (Net Zero 2050), just energy transition (JETP) as well as meet the increasingly stringent requirements of ESG (Environment – Society – Governance) standards from the global market.
HGBA was established with the principle: Connecting – Supporting – Developing – Spreading, accompanying member businesses in improving competitiveness, technological innovation, access to green finance and integration with international standards.
The Executive Committee of the first term of HGBA consists of 52 members, including 17 members of the Standing Committee and 3 members of the Inspection Committee, representing key fields such as production, construction, finance, renewable energy, technology, and communication.
Journalist Tran Hoang – Editor-in-Chief of Saigon Entrepreneur Magazine was elected as a member of the Executive Committee, playing the role of a strategic bridge between the media and the green business community.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Dinh Hong Ky said that HGBA aims to become a leading organization in Vietnam in promoting green development and supporting businesses to achieve sustainable transformation.
HGBA’s first-term action program includes many outstanding initiatives such as the establishment of the Green Transition Support Center for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), providing training, consulting, energy audit, product life cycle assessment (LCA) services;
Building a Green Business Hub, a digital connection platform between businesses, experts, investors and the market; Organizing specialized fairs, sustainable development forums and programs to connect the green consumer market and promote green finance through cooperation with banks and international financial institutions; study the establishment of a carbon credit exchange and a green investment fund to support businesses to access preferential capital.
It is expected that in 2025, HGBA will admit 200 official members, and at the same time gradually expand the scope of activities to provinces and cities such as Binh Duong, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, etc.
Speaking at the congress, Mr. Vo Van Hoan – Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City affirmed: “Businesses can only survive if there are green products, green solutions and there is no other way”.
He emphasized that “small but green things will have a future” and expects HGBA to be a pioneer in proposing policies, spreading green criteria and connecting resources, so that “your seal is a passport to the world”.
Mr. Vu Ba Phu – Director of the Trade Promotion Agency (Ministry of Industry and Trade) highly appreciated HGBA’s pioneering role in green transformation and expected the association to become a partner in implementing the Government’s sustainable development policies nationwide.
Sharing more at the congress, Mr. Dinh Hong Ky affirmed: “This is not only an administrative milestone, but the beginning of a journey to create a green future, the journey of pioneering businesses and spreading the spirit of sustainable development in the Vietnamese business community”.
He cited specific examples: Climate change has caused damage equivalent to 3.2% of Vietnam’s GDP in 2020, if not acted on in time, this figure may increase to 14.5% of GDP by 2050.
As a hub for action, HGBA is committed to becoming a convergence of knowledge, technology and resources, where large businesses accompany small businesses to build a green supply chain, towards responsible production and consumption.
At the seminar “Green transformation in the midst of global fluctuations”, Mr. Erick Contreras – Vice President of EuroCham affirmed his support for HGBA, and at the same time committed to accompanying bilateral cooperation initiatives.
“HGBA is a natural partner of the European business community in the process of promoting sustainable development in Vietnam. We realize that Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City has the potential to become the green economic center of the ASEAN region,” said Mr. Erick Contreras.
He also warned about existing challenges such as the cost of waste treatment, inadequacies in waste collection – classification – recycling and the urgency of the circular economy model. According to data, every day Vietnam discharges about 68,000 tons of domestic solid waste, Ho Chi Minh City alone. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi accounted for more than 38,000 tons.
Although the collection rate reaches more than 88%, most of them are still treated by landfill methods, putting great pressure on the environment and urban land fund.
In this context, the problem of green transformation cannot only be placed on the shoulders of a single enterprise, but requires close coordination between parties, especially the leading role of intermediary organizations such as HGBA in mobilizing resources and green finance for the entire business ecosystem.
HGBA is actively promoting cooperation with organizations such as the World Bank (WB), IFC, JICA and regional climate funds to form green capital flows exclusively for Vietnamese businesses.
At the same time, the association also promotes public-private partnership (PPP) models in key areas: renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste management and sustainable agriculture.
With the birth of HGBA, a dynamic, creative and socially responsible business community is gradually taking shape. Not only is HGBA a gathering place for pioneers in green technology and ecological products, but it is also a center for policy criticism, promoting modern management thinking and sustainable business models.
In the context of new-generation trade agreements such as EVFTA and CPTPP are setting strict requirements on traceability and environmental standards, the participation of enterprises in HGBA is a strategic step to be ready to conquer the global market.
Source: Mr. Dinh Hong Ky – Chairman of Secoin was elected Chairman of HGBA Association for the first term
