Green investment - A new trend in Bac Ninh province

Against the backdrop of increasingly stringent global requirements on environmental standards, emissions, technology and sustainable supply chains, Bac Ninh is shifting toward a more selective investment attraction strategy, prioritizing high-tech and clean industrial projects that use energy efficiently, are environmentally friendly, and have strong spillover effects across value chains.

VSIP Bac Ninh Industrial Park has been developed with green infrastructure, smart urban-service facilities, and a strong commitment to sustainable development.

Selective investment attraction

As one of Vietnam’s most dynamic industrial hubs, Bac Ninh is facing increasing pressure to transform and adapt to emerging development trends. Today, green, smart and sustainable development has become a key criterion in investors’ decisions when selecting investment destinations.

Speaking on this strategic direction, Mr. Nguyen Van Phuc, Head of the Bac Ninh Industrial Zones Authority, said that in the coming period, the Authority will continue to enhance the province’s competitiveness, innovate investment promotion activities, and develop industrial parks along ecological and sustainable lines in order to effectively capture the ongoing shift in global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows. The goal is to maintain Bac Ninh’s position among Vietnam’s leading localities in attracting FDI and green investment.

A key feature of Bac Ninh’s investment attraction strategy is its focus on quality rather than quantity. Instead of pursuing investment at all costs, the province prioritizes projects that deliver long-term value, efficiency and sustainable contributions to economic development. The Bac Ninh Industrial Zones Authority is adopting a selective investment approach, giving priority to high-tech projects, supporting industries, clean energy, electronics manufacturing, semiconductor industries, information technology, biotechnology, advanced materials, renewable energy, deep processing and research and development (R&D) activities.

In particular, Bac Ninh is prioritizing the attraction of multinational corporations to invest in research and development (R&D) and innovation centers, thereby fostering the growth of a high-tech industrial ecosystem. The province’s investment attraction strategy is guided by the principle of “one no, two lows, and three highs”: no pollution; low land use and low labor intensity; and high technology content, high investment capital intensity, and high economic efficiency.

Que Vo II Industrial Park (IDICO Que Vo) is being developed in line with a green and sustainable development strategy.

To realize this vision, the Authority encourages enterprises operating in industrial parks to invest in green technologies, participate in industrial symbiosis initiatives, and adopt ISO standards for production and environmental management. Companies are also encouraged to deploy smart management systems to monitor and automate processes, analyze data, optimize energy and resource use, and reduce emissions. This is considered an essential pathway for businesses seeking to enhance their competitiveness, meet international standards, and integrate more deeply into global supply chains.

One of the clearest examples of this trend is VSIP Bac Ninh Industrial Park, an integrated industrial-urban-service development model designed with a modern, synchronized and sustainable approach. VSIP Bac Ninh has been planned as a comprehensive development ecosystem, where industrial infrastructure, technical utilities, green landscapes, wastewater treatment facilities, business support services and urban spaces are seamlessly integrated into a unified whole.

According to Mr. Bui Dang Thoan, General Director of VSIP Bac Ninh Co., Ltd. and VSIP Lang Son Co., Ltd., this is a defining feature of the new-generation industrial park model: manufacturing is integrated with the living environment, investment attraction goes hand in hand with environmental responsibility, and industrial development is closely linked to services and the quality of life of workers.

As an industrial park infrastructure developer, VSIP views green investment as a long-term commitment that aligns with the planning objectives and overall development strategy of Bac Ninh Province. Today, industrial park development must move toward building a responsible manufacturing ecosystem. VSIP Bac Ninh remains committed to investing in and operating its infrastructure in a green and modern manner, in compliance with environmental standards, promoting efficient resource utilization, and creating favorable conditions for investors to pursue sustainable production and establish a long-term presence in the province.

Mr. Bui Dang Thoan, General Director of VSIP Bac Ninh Co., Ltd. and VSIP Lang Son Co., Ltd., speaks with Business Forum Magazine about the development of Industrial Park 2.0.

Raising the bar for sustainable competitiveness

For green investment to become a meaningful and lasting trend, strong support from government authorities is essential. According to Mr. Nguyen Van Quy, Deputy Head of the Bac Ninh Industrial Zones Authority, administrative reform has been identified as one of the Authority’s key priorities. In line with this objective, the Authority continues to review, simplify and reduce administrative procedures, digitize administrative processing results, expand the provision of fully online public services for procedures under its jurisdiction, and maintain internal processes in accordance with quality management standards. The ultimate goal is to build an investment environment that is transparent, accessible and business-friendly, with enterprise satisfaction serving as a key measure of effectiveness.

At the same time, the Authority places strong emphasis on scientific and effective inspection and supervision, ensuring that oversight activities are coordinated, non-duplicative and do not create unnecessary burdens for businesses, while still upholding legal compliance, particularly in the area of environmental protection. Close monitoring of enterprises’ compliance with environmental regulations is accompanied by efforts to encourage the adoption of green manufacturing models, the use of renewable energy, and emission reduction measures, thereby advancing the transition toward a green and circular economy.

Mr. Tran Huy Phuong, Deputy Secretary of the Bac Ninh Provincial Party Committee (second from left), visits the Buhler Group during a working trip to Switzerland, May 27-30, 2026.

In line with the Authority’s strategic orientation, investment promotion activities are also being revamped to become more professional, proactive and selective. Bac Ninh continues to focus on traditional investment sources such as South Korea, Japan, the United States and the European Union, while also expanding outreach to other promising markets. At the same time, the province places particular emphasis on on-site investment promotion by maintaining regular engagement with existing investors to better understand their expansion and reinvestment plans, promptly address challenges, and provide ongoing support to businesses operating in the province.

For domestic enterprises, the Authority recognizes the need to support improvements in management capabilities, product quality, localization rates and compliance with international standards. These are essential prerequisites for Vietnamese businesses to integrate more deeply into the supply chains of major corporations, moving beyond the role of simple manufacturing subcontractors and gradually creating higher value-added products and services.

Amid the ongoing transformation of global investment flows, Bac Ninh has a significant opportunity to strengthen its position as a leading industrial hub. As infrastructure becomes greener, administrative procedures more digitalized, businesses better supported, workforce quality upgraded, and environmental standards embedded as a core commitment, the province’s industrial parks will become not only attractive investment destinations but also models of sustainable development.