The project is funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) to the Ministry of Planning and Investment with a budget of nearly 3.4 million USD to promote the implementation of circular economy and mitigate the impact of climate change in industrial zones in Vietnam in the period of 2024-2028. The project will be implemented within 54 months from the date of approval of the project, the project owner is the Department of Economic Zone Management, Ministry of Planning and Investment; the implementation location is in Hanoi and the cities of Hai Phong, Bac Ninh, Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh City and Long An under the coordination of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

This grant will facilitate the replication of the eco-industrial park model in many industrial parks: Support for RECP/CSCN assessment for VSIP Industrial Park (Bac Ninh Province) and Tan Do Industrial Park (Long An Province), support Nam Cau Kien Industrial Park (Hai Phong City) to implement the process and procedures for eco-industrial park certification and implement circular economic activities between industrial parks and urban areas.

Continued support to implement and monitor eco-industrial park opportunities identified in 3 industrial parks (DEEP C, Hiep Phuoc and Amata) under the previous eco-industrial park project (2020-2024).

The signing ceremony of the Project Document "Replicating the eco-industrial park approach to promote circular economy in Vietnam" took place on the morning of November 15 at the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

 The project aims to promote the implementation of circular economy in enterprises in industrial zones, reduce the environmental impact of industrial production and help industrial zones adapt to climate change. The project will continue to replicate the implementation of eco-industrial parks, focusing on improving the efficiency of resource use, minimizing waste, promoting recycling, improving the economic, environmental and social efficiency of enterprises, thereby contributing to sustainable and comprehensive industrial development.

The event marks an important step forward for Vietnam from the stage of demonstrating the benefits of eco-industrial parks to promoting and replicating eco-industrial park approaches, contributing to enhancing the position and sustainable development of this model nationwide.

Replicating the eco-industrial park model to promote circular economy

Representative of Long An Economic Zone Management Board at the signing ceremony

Some notable results include: Integrating regulations on eco-industrial parks into relevant legal documents on industrial parks, economic zones, environmental protection, and sustainable development; supporting the implementation of eco-industrial park solutions at enterprises in industrial parks, saving electricity, water, materials, reducing CO2 emissions, optimizing waste reuse, implementing circular economy; developing technical guidelines on eco-industrial parks; raising awareness, conducting training, education, and capacity building on eco-industrial parks.

Delegates take souvenir photos at the Signing Ceremony

Vietnam currently has 436 industrial parks, attracting about 35-40% of the total foreign direct investment capital increasing annually, of which more than 300 industrial parks are operating, creating jobs for more than 4.16 million direct workers and contributing over 50% of the country's total export turnover.

With efforts in implementing the National Strategy on Green Growth for the period 2021-2030, vision 2050, commitment to bring net emissions to 0 by 2050 at COP26, the Circular Economy Development Project in Vietnam as well as programs to realize sustainable development goals, the conversion of industrial parks to eco-industrial parks and the construction of new eco-industrial parks in the industrial park system will contribute significantly to the implementation of green growth goals and Vietnam's international commitments in sustainable development and climate change response.

The program is implemented in countries such as Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Peru, South Africa, Ukraine and Vietnam, focusing on integrating eco-industrial parks into national policies and developing support tools to promote the sustainable development of industrial parks./.