Enviro News Asia, Ha Noi — The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Viet Nam held a working session on November 26 with representatives of the EU-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC) and the European Chamber of Commerce in Viet Nam (EuroCham) to advance cooperation on sustainable development and the circular economy. Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh chaired the discussion, which addressed legal reforms, recycling policies, and the expansion of agricultural and environmental collaboration.
EU-ABC Executive Board Member Li Chen stated that the organization, together with EuroCham, represents European enterprises operating across Southeast Asia and in Viet Nam. She highlighted that the legislative revisions underway in 2025 offer a significant chance to strengthen environmental protection, climate adaptation, and green economic transition. She added that European companies stand ready to support Viet Nam in developing smart agriculture, raising added value in production, and promoting sustainable resource use.
EU-ABC and EuroCham organized a High-Level European Business Mission to Viet Nam from November 24 to 27, followed by the Green Economy Forum (GEF) 2025, as part of efforts to create a platform for dialogue between the Government and European firms. Business representatives at the meeting reiterated their commitment to long-term partnership with Viet Nam, expressing strong interest in expanding circular economy models and improving resource efficiency.
Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh welcomed these contributions and affirmed that the Government continues to prioritize environmental protection, climate resilience, and sustainable growth. He said the Ministry is refining legal regulations to develop agriculture as a high value-added sector capable of meeting international market standards, including those of Europe.
He explained that new policies aim to ensure responsible and sustainable management of land, water, minerals, and forests for future generations. He noted that Viet Nam’s environmental regulatory system is undergoing major reforms, shifting from pre-inspection to post-inspection approaches aligned with EU management practices. Amendments to 15 laws related to agriculture and the environment are currently under review by the National Assembly.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that recommendations from European businesses are vital to improving policies on the circular economy, recycling, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), carbon markets, and carbon credits. He said the Ministry is updating EPR regulations and plans to issue a new decree, while also studying European standards on mandatory recycling rates and product requirements.
He thanked European companies for their practical cooperation, including support for disaster response, and welcomed expanded collaboration in remote sensing, spatial data, renewable energy, wastewater treatment, low-emission products, and biomass energy derived from agricultural residues. He affirmed that the Ministry remains open to business feedback to strengthen Viet Nam’s legal framework and help the country achieve its development goals for 2030 and 2045. (*)
