Ba Ria - Vung Tau: "Lever" for greening the economy

According to the PGI rankings of Vietnam provinces/cities in 2023, the PGI of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province achieved 23.47 points, placing 8th nationwide, up 11 places from 2022.

Securing the green environment 

Mr. Pham Quoc Dang, Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, said with the motto "good will become better," in the plan to upgrade the PGI in 2024, Ba Ria-Vung Tau will strive for enhancing the roles and responsibilities of the heads of departments, sectors, and People's Committees at district level in advising and implementing tasks and solutions to maintain and improve the PGI rankings, promoting friendly business and investment environment.

Notably, strategies for bettering the PGI are linked to synchronized improvements in the Ba Ria - Vung Tau province's PCI and PAPI. For example, the Provincial Disaster Management Indicator (PDMI) was assigned by the Provincial People's Committee to the Department of Planning and Investment to specify the environmental protection plan in the provincial planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, in accordance with the province's national master plan on environment, biodiversity, and environmental monitoring. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment continues to implement the Project on Household Solid Waste Management and Separation in the province until 2025, with a vision to 2030, while also completing the province's Air Quality Management Plan by 2025...

Furthermore, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is assessing dams and water reservoirs that need to be upgraded, with a target of 43.81% tree coverage and 13.58% forest coverage by 2024. The Department of Construction proceeded to carry out wastewater treatment projects in urban areas. The People's Committees of districts, towns, and cities must appropriately implement the timetable for moving manufacturing facilities that pose an environmental risk and are not in compliance with the province’s master plan.

Regarding the Compliance Assurance Index for reducing NO2 emissions in the atmosphere, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment is improving the IT infrastructure and digital database on natural resources and the environment..., while coordinating with the Management Boards of industrial zones and the People's Committees of districts, towns, and cities to enhance inspection and supervision of the enforcement of policies and laws on environmental protection, especially in industrial zones, companies with big wastes, and projects or production facilities that pose a risk of environmental pollution...

As for the Provincial Green Index, Ba Ria-Vung Tau urges departments, sectors, districts, towns, and organizations to utilize ecolabel-certified goods and services, as well as items from green enterprises... The Department of Planning and Investment has collaborated with the Department of Finance to allocate investment resources and maximize external funding for environmental protection while coordinating with the Department of Industry and Trade, the Department of Science and Technology, the Management Board of Industrial Zones, and the VCCI Vung Tau... to attract investment into waste-to-energy power projects, waste heat recovery projects for production, and energy projects using clean fuels such as LNG and offer guidelines for businesses to implement digitalization, energy savings, training, and management of green processes...

Furthermore, the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment, Industry and Trade, and Science and Technology proposed environmental protection projects aimed at attracting resources from investment funds and international organizations, implementing green technology, and lowering CO2 emissions in a variety of sectors. The Department of Information and Communications and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment are working on a communication strategy to improve knowledge about natural resource management, exploitation, and usage, as well as environmental protection in the province.

In terms of the Policy Index for Encouragement and Support Services for Green Practices, the Department of Planning and Investment, the Department of Industry and Trade, the Management Board of Industrial Zones, the Department of Science and Technology, VCCI Vung Tau, and the Provincial Tax Department advise and support businesses to benefit from tax incentives and implement environmentally friendly solutions... while organizing dialogues and resolving obstacles for businesses within their authorities.

"The Department of Science and Technology is implementing policies to encourage individuals and businesses to invest in, research, develop, transfer, and apply environmentally friendly scientific and technological advancements; to develop models of green economy and circular economy; and to build exemplary, smart industrial parks oriented towards ecology and IT applications with low carbon emissions," said Mr. Pham Quoc Dang.

Goal of net zero emissions by 2050

To achieve the goals of the said plans, Mr. Nguyen Van Tho, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, directed the competent authorities to monitor and enhance the PGI and its sub-indexes under their jurisdiction...

Mr. Nguyen Van Tho also proposed that the VCCI Vung Tau, in collaboration with the Department of Planning and Investment, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and other relevant agencies, hold annual training and awareness campaigns for departments, sectors, localities, officials, civil servants, organizations, and individuals to increase their understanding of the importance of improving PGI.

The chairpersons of the People's Committees of districts, towns, and cities will be in charge of delegating the plan to departments, divisions, and affiliated units for implementation. The relevant agencies must prepare an implementation strategy; report the results of assigned duties to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment on a periodic and yearly basis (before December 20); and report to the province People's Committee.

Experts believe that Ba Ria-Vung Tau province is accelerating its path toward greening economic sectors, developing a circular economy based on scientific and technological foundations, digital transformation, and promoting a green lifestyle. This will help achieve the target of net-zero emissions by 2050, as pledged by the Vietnamese government at COP26.