Viet Nam needs to restructure its economy to achieve sustainable development and consider green growth an intrinsic part, while keeping in mind the poor people, an official said.

Pham Hoang Mai, director general of the Department of Science, Education, Natural Resources and Environment under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, made the comment yesterday (Oct 21) during the collaborative seminar on "Policy Implementation for Green Development: Comparative Perspective from Oregon state of US and Viet Nam", held by the Academy of Policy and Development (APD) in Ha Noi.

In the seminar, members of the executive delegation from Oregon State in the United States shared their government's experiences in policy-making for green development with Vietnamese experts and officials.

Mai said Viet Nam's green growth strategy (VGGS), the national strategy on green growth until 2050, approved in 2012 by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, includes not only the conservation of natural resources and the reduction of emission of carbon dioxide but aims at many other things, Mai said.

"VGGS must stipulate the restructuring and improvement of the economic institution towards more effective use of natural resources, and increasing competitiveness of the economy through enhancing investment in new technology, natural capital and economic instrument," Mai said,

"That is what makes VGGS different from others, based on the low level development of Viet Nam, the less access to technology and the lack of capital investment," he added.

"When comparing the situation in Viet Nam with the US and other countries, we found that Viet Nam should have a different vision about green growth," Mai said.

Mai said Oregon had started green growth strategy more than 40 years ago, while Viet Nam has started its strategy only since 2011, and added that Oregon's population is just 4 million while that number of Viet Nam is more than 90 million.

Marcus Ingle, director of the Centre for International Public Service of Portland State University (PSU), a key partner in Oregon's policy implementation for green development, said this seminar would help provide illustrations of "best and next practices" for green development in the two countries.

"Through this co-operation, the US and Viet Nam can also build strong cross-cultural relationships between Oregon executives and Viet Nam public policy professionals," Ingle added.

Ingle said that in the 21st century, the US and Viet Nam both face increasingly complex policy challenges that include climate change, disasters and erosion, and industrialisation and pollution, apart from rapid population growth, limited foreign investment and public taxation.
Source: vietnamnet.vn