HCMC – Against the backdrop of global supply chain shifts and growing climate urgency, ESG Forum 2025 unfolded today, June 25, at the Saigon Prince Hotel in District 1, HCMC.
With the theme “Dual Transformation toward Eco-Industrial Parks”, the forum gathered over 150 participants, including business leaders, policymakers, sustainability experts, and foreign chambers of commerce, around a shared question: How can Vietnam’s industrial landscape become greener and smarter?
Jointly organized by The Saigon Times and Green Transition Consulting & Training, the event served as a timely checkpoint for ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) progress in Vietnam. The conversation moved beyond theory, diving into concrete strategies for transforming industrial parks through both environmental sustainability and digital innovation.
In his opening remarks at the ceremony, Pham Huu Chuong, deputy editor-in-chief of the Saigon Times Group, said: “We are living in a time of urgent transformation. ESG is no longer a buzzword or a corporate tagline. It has become a strategic compass that shapes how businesses operate, how capital is allocated, and how countries like Vietnam remain competitive in a rapidly changing global economy.”
When businesses, government, and society act together and demonstrate leadership with responsibility and determination, they can co-create industrial zones that are not only green and efficient but also capable of meeting the growing demand, he noted.
Also in attendance was PetroVietnam Technical Services Corporation (PTSC), a key player in Vietnam’s energy services sector under the PetroVietnam Group. PTSC’s presence at the forum reflected the growing awareness among traditional industries of the importance of ESG-driven transformation.
With a mission to deliver comprehensive and optimized solutions that create exceptional added value, PTSC is committed to fostering a distinctive corporate culture that inspires innovation and unlocks human potential. The company actively supports the national energy transition agenda, contributes to sustainable community development, and plays a strategic role in enhancing the value chain of PVN, thereby boosting business efficiency and national competitiveness.
The forum commenced with an informative presentation by Pham Thi Ngoc Thuy, Director, Office of the Research and Development Board for the Private Economic Sector (Board IV – PSD Committee). It focused on strategies for Vietnamese Enterprises to Build Competitive Advantage through ESG Practices amid a Time of “Great Transition”.
The forum’s main panel discussion focuses on core questions for industrial zones and the businesses operating within them: What incentives and policies are available from the Government for eco-industrial parks (EIPs)? How can manufacturers leverage the EIP model to drive green transformation? And what are the tangible economic benefits of this transition?
To complement the discussion, the program featured three case studies illustrating how dual transformation is being implemented on the ground across Vietnam’s industrial landscape.
The forum was among Vietnam’s pioneering net-zero carbon events, with greenhouse gas emissions associated with the event, ranging from travel and energy use to catering, waste, and other logistics, carefully measured. The resulting carbon credits will be directed toward certified offset projects, contributing not only to climate mitigation but also to the sustainable development of local communities and broader ecosystems.
Three afternoon workshops delved into essential aspects of dual transformation within industrial zones, including blue-green infrastructure, efficiency and decarbonization, and logistics for pathway EIP.
These sessions provided participants with practical tools and forward-looking strategies to implement ESG principles effectively across industrial ecosystems.
