4 Things to know about eco-industrial parks in Vietnam

RSL Group – As a new industrial park model aiming for sustainable development, eco-industrial parks bring many benefits to businesses as well as society and are becoming a trend of industrial park development in Vietnam. To help investors better understand this model, the article below will provide important information about eco-industrial parks in Vietnam.

According to Clause 5, Article 2 of Decree 35/2022/ND-CP, an eco-industrial park is an industrial park in which enterprises in the industrial park participate in cleaner production activities and efficient use of resources. , there is linkage and cooperation in production to carry out industrial symbiosis; and meet the criteria specified in this law.

In other words, an eco-industrial park is a “community” of businesses working together in production and services aiming to both develop and protect the environment.  

The construction of eco-industrial parks is considered a solution that not only overcomes limitations and inadequacies in environmental issues, reduces resource waste, but also promotes sustainable growth and contributes towards achieving sustainable growth. The target is to reduce net emissions to zero. Specifically, the business will develop a circular production process to replace the linear model. In an industrial park, the output or waste or by-products of one business are inputs for another business with a different production model. The eco-industrial park model also integrates all social and economic issues, emphasizing the importance of industrial park master planning, thereby creating conditions for industries in the industrial park to combine and support each other, forming industrial symbiotic networks.

Eco-industrial park standards require large investments to meet regulations, specifically:

• Infrastructure must comply with the law, protect the environment, and provide adequate basic services
• Clean production, efficient use of resources
• Have at least 25% of the land area for green buildings
• There is at least 1 industrial symbiotic association with at least 10% of the total number of member enterprises participating
• There are solutions to ensure housing, service facilities, and public utilities for workers
• There is a mechanism to monitor and manage inputs, outputs, and effectively operate resources and emissions
• Announce the annual environmental protection report
• Detailed information on criteria for determining eco-industrial parks is specified in Article 37 of Decree 35/2022/ND-CP.

3. Benefits of eco-industrial parks

By linking production with environmental protection activities, investors, manufacturing enterprises in industrial parks and localities all benefit. The transformation towards a green economy and circular economy in Industrial Parks and Economic Zones is a key factor to improve competitiveness and ensure sustainable development for each Industrial Park and Economic Zone, for each locality and for the whole economy.

Operating industrial parks according to the energy recirculation model and reducing carbon emissions will contribute to reducing management costs such as infrastructure management fees or environmental protection fees…, thereby increasing investment attractionin industrial parks for domestic and foreign investors. At the same time, the orientation of smart-green industrial parks for sustainable development is also consistent with the general trend of the world and Vietnam today.

Efficient use of resources, cleaner production and industrial symbiosis will help save energy such as electricity, water, and input materials, and receive certificates from international organizations. A business implementing cleaner production may have to do the process for 7 to 8 months but then can recover the capital immediately and can still use that method in the following years.

Converting to an eco-industrial park model also helps save production costs, increase profits, bring business efficiency and increase competitive advantages for businesses. Many “difficult” international markets such as Europe, the United States, Japan… always set criteria for selecting sustainable production enterprises, so businesses following the eco-industrial park model will be welcomed by customers. Products are rated higher because they are environmentally friendly.  

In addition, businesses in eco-industrial parks also receive many special preferential policies from organizations and the Government. Specifically, prioritize preferential credit loans, include them in the list of priority projects to attract investment, and borrow capital from the Enterprise Development Support Fund, Development Bank, and international donor funds… In addition, there will be opportunities to receive help in applying science and technology from the Technology Innovation Fund, participating in technical support programs, investment promotion, and facilitating export of goods. and promote brands from social non-profit organizations.

The process of attracting a large number of local workers to the eco-industrial park will help contribute to the economic development of the region, enhancing investment attraction, especially attracting FDI investors.

From 2015 to 2019, the Ministry of Planning and Investment coordinated with UNIDO to pilot the conversion of traditional industrial parks to eco-industrial parks with funding from the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs (SECO) and the Environmental Fund. Global Market (GEF), aims to develop the industry from horizontal to deep and promote cooperation in production to effectively use resources.

Currently, the project “Implementing eco-industrial parks in Vietnam following the approach from the Global Eco-Industrial Park Program” with a total cost of 1,821,800 USD is being implemented for 3 years in Vietnam. 5 provinces/cities include: City. HCM, Can Tho, Dong Nai, Da Nang and Hai Phong. The project has the goal of improving the economic, environmental and social efficiency of the industry and integrating regulations to develop the eco-industrial park model in relevant mechanisms and policies.

In the report summarizing 30 years of industrial park and economic zone development of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Government agreed that by 2030, 40% – 50% of localities will have plans to convert industrial zones. existing industrial parks to eco-industrial parks and 8%-10% of localities have the orientation to build new eco-industrial parks from the stage of construction planning and orienting industries and occupations to attract investment. The attention to building new eco-industrial parks is carried out simultaneously with the conversion of traditional industrial parks to eco-industrial parks.

According to Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, Vietnam needs more guidance on technical regulations and standards from ministries and branches and technical guidance from domestic and international experts, especially for industrial symbiotic networks and circular economy solutions. In addition, the addition of preferential financial policies for industrial parks, ecological zones, and ecological enterprises such as tax exemption and reduction, land rent, and priority credit loans… is necessary to encourage Enterprises themselves to carry out the conversion and construction of new eco-industrial parks

Above RSL Group has introduced an overview of eco-industrial parks including concepts, standards, benefits and some development directions in our country, hoping to provide useful information to readers. If you have any questions, please contact our hotline immediately for answers. See more articles here.

Source: Redsunland.vn