Green industry: “Key” to reaching net zero

Industrial production at Long Duc Industrial Park (IP) in Binh An commune, which is currently in the process of transitioning from a traditional model to a green-oriented one.

In practice, emission reduction in production helps enterprises meet increasingly stringent environmental requirements, enhance competitiveness and attract selective investment. This is also considered the “key” enabling the province to shorten its roadmap toward net zero, laying a foundation for sustainable economic growth in the future.

Shifting industry toward a green pathway

At the end of 2021, at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh announced Vietnam’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Following this declaration, a series of programs, projects and action plans were issued and synchronously implemented by central and local authorities.

In the industrial sector, Dong Nai is one of four localities with industrial parks participating in a pilot program to transform from traditional models to eco-industrial models under a program jointly implemented by the Ministry of Finance and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Through this program, many enterprises in Amata IP have been supported with solutions for efficient resource use and cleaner production, including reduced consumption of materials, energy and water, as well as recycling and reuse of waste.

To enhance emission reduction efficiency in key economic sectors, in early 2024, the Provincial People’s Committee issued the Project on Carbon Emission Reduction in Dong Nai province to 2030, with a vision to 2050, setting the target of net zero by 2050, in which industry is identified as one of seven priority sectors. At the same time, the province promulgated multiple documents to implement central government policies, while organizing conferences, workshops and cooperation programs to seek solutions suited to local conditions in responding to climate change, promoting green growth and the circular economy.

In early 2026, the Provincial People’s Committee issued a Plan to Transform Existing Industrial Parks into Green and Eco-Industrial Parks by 2030, with a vision to 2050. The plan sets out specific targets such as reducing energy costs by 10–20 percent; cutting water consumption by 20–30 percent through reuse; lowering environmental treatment costs; extending equipment lifespan and improving production efficiency; reducing CO₂ emissions; and creating a safe and sustainable working environment.

At the Green Growth Cooperation Forum between Dong Nai province and Kobe city (Japan) held in late 2025, Pham Viet Phuong, Acting Deputy Head of the Dong Nai Economic and Industrial Zones Authority, stated that Dong Nai continues to affirm its role as a strategic and attractive destination for investors thanks to its core competitive advantages. These include the province’s new economic scale and geo-economic position; its strategic location at the intersection of key economic regions; and a synchronized, multimodal transport infrastructure system, with Long Thanh International Airport set to come into operation and Phuoc An Port already operational, helping optimize logistics costs and shorten the time needed to bring goods from factories to global markets. In addition, the province pursues green growth and circular economy objectives in line with global trends.

Also according to Phuong, over many years, Dong Nai has consistently pursued a strategy of selective FDI attraction, prioritizing high-tech, modern-technology and supporting-industry projects. Currently, the province focuses on developing three key product groups: aerospace and semiconductor industries; automation equipment; and information technology equipment, supported by a modern industrial ecosystem.

Nguyen Kim Long, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, said that to realize green growth and emission reduction goals, the province remains steadfast in attracting strategic and new-generation investors; focuses on filling existing industrial parks and continues to attract investment into potential parks, prioritizing high-tech, green industry and supporting industries. At the same time, Dong Nai promotes industrial development in a high-tech, environmentally friendly direction, with older IPs gradually upgraded and transformed in line with the province’s sustainable development orientation.

Additional legal instruments needed

Dong Nai’s orientation toward green industrial development associated with the net-zero target by 2050 has been clearly defined, consistent and focused.

Accordingly, the province remains committed to net zero, identifying green transition as a pillar in investment attraction and industrial restructuring; prioritizing projects with high technological content, low emissions, and compliance with environmental, social and governance standards; and encouraging enterprises to adopt circular economy models, digital transformation and cleaner production.

Moreover, the province considers investment in human resources a key factor for green industry. A strategy to train 50,000 engineers and technology experts by 2030, particularly in semiconductor and digital economy fields, is being implemented to form a high-quality workforce meeting the requirements of new-generation FDI projects.

With the viewpoint of “accompanying projects throughout their lifecycle,” Dong Nai continues to affirm its image as a safe, transparent and stable investment destination. Provincial leaders have repeatedly emphasized their commitment to listening and promptly addressing difficulties, standing alongside businesses amid global market fluctuations.

Consistently placing enterprises at the center of public service and using investment efficiency as a benchmark for governance, the province is implementing three key solution groups in a synchronized manner: administrative procedure reform, promotion of digital government and shortening of processing times; proactive creation of development space through special incentive mechanisms such as establishing a free trade zone; and ensuring essential production conditions and social welfare for workers.

Kume Kunihide, Chairman of the Japanese Business Association in Ho Chi Minh City, said that Dong Nai’s orientation in investment attraction and industrial development aligns well with the strengths of many Japanese enterprises, particularly projects with high technological content, low emissions and compliance with environmental protection and circular economy requirements. Therefore, in the coming period, the association will focus on organizing business networking and trade promotion activities to facilitate Japanese enterprises in seeking cooperation opportunities and expanding production and business operations in Dong Nai province.

Under the approved planning, by 2030, Dong Nai will have 81 industrial parks, one high-tech park and one border-gate economic zone. To date, 58 industrial parks have been established, of which 42 are operational, with an average occupancy rate of 76 percent; the province has attracted more than 2,700 projects from 45 countries and territories.

Despite clear policies, orientations and certain achievements, the process of emission reduction in the industrial sector still faces numerous obstacles. In particular, although waste reuse in industrial parks is encouraged under the Law on Environmental Protection, practical implementation encounters many barriers related to mechanisms, policies, and input and output standards; waste symbiosis models among industrial parks are difficult to realize. Similarly, reuse of treated wastewater faces challenges due to the lack of technical standards and specific guidelines for purposes such as irrigation. Current criteria for eco-industrial parks remain high and are not well suited to industrial parks established before 2000, which have limited land for green spaces, social infrastructure and worker housing.

Addressing these obstacles is essential to creating an open legal corridor that promotes the formation of eco-industrial parks and the development of green industry in a substantive and sustainable manner. This is also the key for Dong Nai to realize its double-digit economic growth target and move closer to achieving net zero.

By Hoang Loc – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha