UEH cooperates with the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City to organize a scientific seminar on the direction of circular economic development

12 Oct, 2020

The seminar encourages sharing of experience and proposes priorities for research, development, scientific and technological solutions, and policies in the field of circular economy in Vietnam and HCMC. In addition, the seminar helps to form research and development links, to provide consultation on application of the circular economic model between Enterprises - Government - Institutes / Schools - Local communities in the circular economic ecosystems in accordance with Vietnam’s and HCMC’s conditions, and to promote local circular economic development.

The seminar was chaired by Prof.Dr. Su Dinh Thanh - UEH President, PhD. Nguyen Viet Dung - Member of the Party Committee , Director of Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Vinh - Director of the Institute of Development Economics Research. The seminar was also attended by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hong Quan - Director of the Institute for Circular Economic Development, Mr. Huynh Van Hung - Director of HCMC Statistical Office, PhD. Nguyen Hoang Nam - Natural Resources and Environment Policy and Strategy Institute under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Xuan Bach - Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Youth Union and representatives of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ho Chi Minh City, Department of Finance of Ho Chi Minh City, Department of Planning and Investment of Vinh Long Province, Office of Ben Tre Provincial Party Committee , Political Academy, Faculties / Training Institutes, Research Institutes, Scientists, Experts and the Business Community.

Delivering the opening remarks, Prof.Dr. Su Dinh Thanh - UEH President shared UEH was a key, multi-disciplinary school in the economic field. The development trend of the university in the coming time was to promote academic and applied research, contributing to economic development in regions. The circular economy over the past time was a hot topic in the context of sustainable development. The topic of the relationship among Enterprises - Government - Institutes / Schools - Local communities was also related to one of the 09 key projects of UEH, in the period 2020 - 2025; it is to promote the cooperation between UEH and its partners.

Concurring with the sharing of President, PhD. Nguyen Viet Dung - Member of the Party Committee, Director of Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City expected all units to build a creative cooperation ecosystem. Hopefully, the research will go beyond the seminar and become applicable by establishing real relationships, promoting the coordination of projects. These projects could be small in scale but expected to contribute to macro policies and specific laws so that a proposal could be made to the government for an action plan. Leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology were fully committed to supporting research activities about circular economy, cooperation between units, and practical implementation.

At the seminar, 05 dícussions and 02 sharings were introduced to participants. The five discussions focused on the concept of circular economy, the model of applying circular economy at local enterprises, design of a circular economy, as well as experiences in implementing circular economy of european countries and how to apply it for HCMC. The 02 sharings discussed policies and a number of reports as well as studies on circular economy, conducted by the representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The delegates posed many interesting and evocative questions for further studies on the circular economy such as how circular economy affected economic growth or whether slower economic growth would be accepted? Which channel led the conversion of consumer behavior? The leading role belonged to the state or the private? ...

Sharing his feelings after attending the seminar, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology - Nguyen Viet Dung said promoting a circular economy was one of the content in the Resolution of the City Party Congress in the next term. He highly appreciated UEH's initiative in promptly grasping the needs of the city by inviting related units to share a common vision, moving forward to promoting circular economic development. Through the seminar, it can be seen that the circular economy is not far-fetched. There are still many policy issues that need further perfecting to support enterprises. Members at the seminar agreed on the establishment of an innovative cooperation ecosystem. Enterprises are very interested in this area and there were many suitable products presented at the workshop.

The seminar gathered a lot of knowledge and experience in promoting circular economic development in Vietnam, and at the same time suggested a combination of models between state management agencies, enterprises, scientists and the local community.

Established since 2001, the Institute for Economic Development Research (IDR) always aims to expand in content, multi-dimensional form and expertise in leadership, management and business operations. The Institute for Economic Research develops with a vision of becoming one of the leading centers in the field of research, training, coaching, consulting and providing prestigious economic scientific information in the country. With a professional, modern and empathetic service style, IDR meets all needs and requirements of research, training, coaching, consulting and providing information related to these fields: scientific research in economics, applied research, economic consulting and business administration, training and retraining.

Highlights of the seminar:

Delegates check-in and exchanges before the workshop

Prof.Dr. Su Dinh Thanh - UEH President delivering his speech

PhD. Nguyen Viet Dung - Member of the Party Committee , Director of Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City delivering his speech

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Vinh - Director of the Institute for Development Economics Research giving a speech

MSc. Pham Tien Dung - Development Economics Research Institute presenting the topic Approach to Circular Economy

Ms. Le Huynh Que Phuong - Cao Hoang Dat One Member Co., Ltd. presenting the topic on Circular economic model at local enterprises - Mekong Delta

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai - National University of Singapore, FABLAB Saigon presenting the topic Design for a Circular Economy

MSc. Nguyen Thi Hang - Vietinbank presenting the topic Experience in Implementing Circular Economy of Europe - Lessons for Vietnam in the context of EVFTA

MSc. Nguyen Tran Dieu My - Development Director of R&D Fund, The Association of Vietnamese Scientists and Experts (AVSE Global) presenting the topic on A Sustainable Circular Economic Ecosystem Suitable for HCMC

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Hong Quan - Director of the Circular Economic Development Research Institute sharing about circular economic projects being implemented

Dr. Nguyen Hoang Nam - The Natural Resources and Environment Policy Strategy Institute under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment sharing some recent reports and studies on the circular economy.