International cooperation to 'green' industrial parks

Initial formation of eco-industrial parks

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Export Processing and Industrial Zones Authority (HEPZA), the HCMC People's Committee has assigned HEPZA to implement the "Support for the Project Management Board to deploy Eco-Industrial Parks (EIPs) in Viet Nam following the approach from the global EIP program to identify and implement EIP opportunities to bring environmental, economic, and social benefits to enterprises in Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park".

Mr. Bui Minh Tri - Head of HEPZA stated: The project "Deployment of EIPs in Viet Nam following the approach from the global EIP program", co-implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) with funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), had its project document approved by the Ministry of Planning and Investment under Decision No. 702/QD-BKHĐT dated May 8, 2020.

Accordingly, Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park was selected for implementation in HCMC, with the overall goal of improving the environmental, economic, and social performance of industries in Viet Nam through the EIP approach at selected pilot IPs and increasing the role of EIPs in environmental, industrial, and other relevant policies at the national level.

By the end of 2020, Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park had achieved 44% of the requirements under the international EIP framework. With the project's support, by late 2023, the development level of Hiep Phuoc IP increased to 76% compared to the international EIP framework's requirements and continues to improve its criteria to exceed 80% by 2030. Currently, Hiep Phuoc IP is completing the dossier to register for EIP certification.

Regarding cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Ministry of Planning and Investment issued Document No. 2704/BKHĐT-KTDN on April 9, 2023, announcing the Japanese Government's funding for the Technical Assistance Project to build model IPs - smart IPs with an ecological orientation and the application of information technology in IP management and operation in the former Ba Ria - Vung Tau province (now HCMC).

To build model and smart IPs suitable for the new development phase, on February 25, 2026, the HCMC People's Committee issued Decision No. 1073/QD-UBND approving the adjustment of the project document "Technical assistance for building model IPs - smart IPs with an ecological orientation and IT application in IP management and operation in HCMC". This includes Phu My Specialized Industrial Park and Phu My II Industrial Park.

The technical assistance project for building eco-oriented model and smart IPs in HCMC commenced in October 2023 with main activities aimed at supporting the transformation of model IPs into EIPs; simultaneously, implementing pilot activities at Phu My 3 Specialized IP, Phu My II, and Expanded Phu My II IPs; and drafting technical guidelines for EIP certification.

To date, the investor has submitted the registration dossier for EIP certification for Phu My 3 Specialized IP. Additionally, HEPZA has held a meeting of the Evaluation Team regarding the dossier requesting the EIP Certificate for Phu My 3 Specialized IP. As a result, the Evaluation Team agreed to pass it on the condition that the investor must revise and supplement the Team's comments regarding Phu My 3 Specialized IP.

Currently, Thanh Binh Phu My Joint Stock Company - the investor of Phu My 3 Specialized IP - has revised the contents exactly as requested by the Evaluation Team. According to HEPZA, besides Phu My 3 Specialized IP, the Technical Assistance Project for building eco-oriented model and smart IPs in HCMC will also continue to support Phu My 2 IP in transforming into an EIP, expected in 2027.

Promoting circular economy in industrial parks

Regarding the orientation of cooperation with international partners for projects currently being supported in HCMC in the coming time, Mr. Bui Minh Tri said: HEPZA will continue to coordinate the implementation of phase-2 EIP pilot activities for projects at Hiep Phuoc IP, Phu My 3 Specialized IP, Phu My II, and Expanded Phu My II IPs.

At the same time, HEPZA will strengthen cooperation with Finnish partners (via the Embassy of Finland) to promote the circular and green economy in IP development in HCMC. In particular, it will prioritize organizing study tours to learn from EIP development experiences in countries with a foundation in transforming existing IPs into green, eco-industrial parks.

Additionally, HEPZA will coordinate with international partners to organize seminars on applying technologies, cleaner production solutions, and the circular economy in industrial production. It will also research, develop, and complete the transformation of proposed IPs into EIPs, such as VSIP II-A, VSIP 3, and Protrade International IP.

With the desire for the World Free Zones Organization (WFZO) to share international experiences on institutions, development policies, as well as the roadmap to restructure traditional IPs into smart and eco-industrial parks, HEPZA will enhance cooperation with WFZO to catch up with the development trend of new models like Free Trade Zones (FTZ), linked to the global green supply chain.