Green and circular economy – an inevitable path

Forest resources in Dong Nai offer advantages for eco-tourism development and carbon credits, serving as a foundation for balancing industrial and urban growth with environmental protection. File photo

Dong Nai is one of the country’s major industrial hubs, home to many key crops and livestock, with a population of nearly 4.5 million, ranking fifth among 34 provinces and cities nationwide. For this reason, green and circular economic development is the only viable choice to ensure sustainability. From the 10th Provincial Party Congress (2015–2020) to the 11th Congress (2020–2025), as well as the Provincial master plan for 2021–2030 with a vision to 2050, Dong Nai has consistently set a direction toward green and sustainable growth.

In practice, Dong Nai possesses favorable conditions for transitioning toward a green, circular, and sustainable development model. Geographically, the province serves as a gateway to the southern key economic region, situated near Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s largest economic hub, with access to seaports, border gates, and the soon-to-be-operational Long Thanh International Airport. Combined with a steadily improving transport and logistics infrastructure, these factors position Dong Nai to become a hub for green production and exports.

Thanks to sound policies, Dong Nai has consistently ranked among the leading provinces in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). Major corporations from South Korea, Japan, and Europe have invested in clean production, energy efficiency, and the application of international environmental standards in management, manufacturing, and business operations. At the same time, Dong Nai has been a pioneer in strategically shifting its investment attraction model from “brown” to “green,” firmly rejecting projects with high pollution risks, labor-intensive processes, or outdated technologies. Instead, the province prioritizes projects that feature advanced technology, high added value, and environmental sustainability.

At the beginning of 2024, Dong Nai became the first locality nationwide to issue a Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Plan for 2021–2030, with a vision extending to 2050, aiming for net zero by 2050. This attempt marked a crucial step in the province’s green growth and sustainability strategy. Earlier, the Provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee had issued directives and plans, making Dong Nai a leader in household waste collection, classification, and treatment, as well as in the proportion of industrial parks equipped with centralized wastewater treatment systems meeting environmental standards.

By taking the lead in closing natural forests nearly 30 years ago, Dong Nai now maintains expansive forest areas and a high forest coverage rate. This policy reflects the province’s long-term strategic vision in conserving natural resources, balancing industrial and urban development with environmental protection, and preserving the distinctive ecosystem of the Southeast region.

For years, Dong Nai has consistently pursued selective investment attraction, prioritizing high-tech industries, eco-industrial parks, supporting industries, and biotechnology. The province is developing a set of green criteria to screen investment projects, while mobilizing domestic and international green finance and accessing preferential policies. This undertaking is a crucial step to reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions, a key economic sector for the province.

Comrade Vo Tan Duc, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Dong Nai People’s Committee

However, alongside these advantages, Dong Nai’s transition toward a green, circular, and sustainable economy still faces considerable challenges. Several industrial clusters lack centralized wastewater treatment systems, and the majority of urban wastewater remains uncollected and improperly treated. Small and medium-sized enterprises struggle with limited access to capital, technology, and skilled labor necessary for transitioning to green production models. Meanwhile, green consumption habits and public awareness of emission reduction have yet to become widespread within the community.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Dinh Thien, former Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics, Member of the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council, Member of Dong Nai’s Socio-Economic Advisory Group, stated that in addition to national policies, the province should introduce further incentives related to credit, taxation, and land to encourage businesses to invest in clean production, renewable energy, and circular economy models. Socio-economic development planning must be closely aligned with environmental considerations and include clear emission reduction targets.

He further emphasized that Dong Nai’s policy of rejecting projects with outdated technologies, high energy consumption, and pollution risks should be maintained and enforced more rigorously. At the same time, the province could capitalize on its infrastructure advantages to develop green transportation, green urban areas, and establish eco-industrial zones incorporating industrial symbiosis models to reduce emissions.

Dr. Tran Du Lich, member of the National Monetary and Financial Policy Advisory Council and of Dong Nai’s Socio-Economic Advisory Group, speaking at the scientific conference on development orientations and the draft political report for the 2025–2030 term of the Provincial Party Congress on August 1, outlined five growth pillars for Dong Nai in the coming period.

The first is manufacturing and processing, leveraging the province’s planned industrial land and its position within the Southeast region’s industrial–service–urban corridor to drive breakthroughs in renewable energy, green industry, and both green and digital transitions.

The second is logistics, capitalizing on the network of seaports, airports, inland ports, and border gates to position Dong Nai as a regional logistics hub.

The third pillar is the development of high-tech and clean agriculture, capitalizing on the province’s strengths in industrial crops and livestock farming.

The fourth focuses on leveraging the advantages of rapid urbanization to develop the industrial real estate market, residential housing, tourism-related properties, and service infrastructure, creating a strong driver for growth.

Ultimately, the province will promote ecotourism by leveraging its rich natural assets, including native forests, mountain ranges, rivers, and lakes.

In 2021, the government issued the National Strategy on Green Growth for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision toward 2050. This strategy lays the groundwork for transitioning to a green, circular, and sustainable economy. It outlines four key objectives: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, greening economic sectors, promoting green lifestyles and sustainable consumption, and improving quality of life while enhancing resilience to climate change.

For residents in the locality, Dong Nai has long been a pioneer in source-separated household waste management, aiming to reduce the volume of waste requiring treatment, in line with Directive No. 54-CT/TU dated March 24, 2020, of the Provincial Standing Party Committee, which aims to strengthen leadership in source-based solid waste separation and post-separation treatment. Community initiatives such as "Green Sunday", "Recycled Homes", and "Trash-for-Gifts" have been spreading widely, contributing to the development of a green lifestyle and reducing direct environmental impacts.

According to Nguyen Thi Hoang, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chair of the Dong Nai People's Committee, green growth is not only a global trend but also the essential path for Dong Nai to achieve sustainable development. From the 10th and 11th Provincial Party Congresses to the provincial master plan, Dong Nai has remained steadfast in its goal of driving economic growth while prioritizing environmental protection and enhancing the quality of life. To realize this vision, the province needs the collective effort of businesses, residents, policymakers, and the scientific community to reform production methods, adjust lifestyles and consumption habits, rethink strategic approaches, and foster science and technology development tied to innovation.

Production under green standards at Texhong Textile Joint Stock Company in Nhon Trach, Dong Nai. Illustrative photo

In line with provincial policies, many industrial parks are transitioning to green models. Notably, Amata Industrial Park is developing an eco-industrial model meeting global standards, while Long Duc Industrial Park is implementing green industry initiatives. In the provincial master plan, Hang Gon Industrial Park and three other clusters have been designated as pilot sites for green industrial infrastructure.

At the corporate level, several multinational groups have pledged to align with the province’s goals.

Binu Jacob, General Director of Nestlé Vietnam Co., Ltd., stated that since 2020, Nestlé has announced a roadmap to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2025, 50% by 2030, and achieve net zero by 2050. The company focuses on two main areas of action: in the supply chain, promoting regenerative agriculture and integrating tree planting into sustainable coffee production; in production activities, implementing energy-saving measures, utilizing renewable energy, promoting a circular economy in waste management, and reducing the use of virgin plastic in packaging.

In addition, Pawalit Ua-Amornwanit, General Director of C.P. Vietnam Livestock Joint Stock Company, shared that the company has established a sustainable ecosystem that balances economic, social, and environmental benefits. The enterprise invests in renewable energy, aims to plant 1.5 million trees by 2025, and collaborates with the Vietnam Packaging Recycling Alliance (PRO Vietnam) to promote a circular economy model. These activities will continue and expand toward the corporation’s net-zero target by 2050, contributing to the province’s green, circular, and sustainable economic development.

In its development strategy toward 2030, with a vision to 2050, Dong Nai aims to become a centrally governed city, leading in high-tech industry development, with a focus on green and circular economy, while achieving net zero. This undertaking is also a key goal and task for the 2025-2030 term. With its existing potential and advantages, alongside open investment policies and a decentralization framework from the central government, Dong Nai currently has strong potential and momentum to become a modern center for industry, agriculture, logistics, and tourism in the southern region and nationwide. These are important foundations for the entire Party Committee, government, armed forces, and people of Dong Nai to confidently step into a new era of development alongside the country.

The green and circular economy is no longer a matter of choice, but an essential requirement. For Dong Nai, it presents both a challenge and an opportunity to assert its position, attract new investment resources, and enhance the quality of life for its people. On this path, the Party provides leadership, the government takes on an enabling role, businesses serve as the pioneering force, and the people act as active partners, together forming a unified strength for development.

By Hoang Loc – Translated by M.Nguyet, Minho