VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam and South Korea were going to boost co-operation in developing the environmental industry, a conference in Ha Noi heard yesterday, Nov 21.

Co-organised by the Viet Nam Environment Administration and the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute (KEITI), the conference targeted the business potential of Vietnamese enterprises in the field of waste treatment and manufacturing of environmentally friendly products.

The co-operation was marked by the signing of three memoranda of understanding between KEITI and the Viet Nam Environment Administration, KEITI and the Viet Nam Environmental Industry Association and between the Korea Environmental Preservation Association and the Viet Nam Urban Environment and Industry Zone Association.

Speaking at the conference, KEITI director Joon Seung Yoon emphasised it was high time to give environment protection top priority, besides economic growth.

"The development of environmental industry is of great importance," he said.

South Korea once faced with severe air and water pollution during the period of highly accelerated economic growth, what was called "Miracle on the Han River," shared Yoon. However, pollution was eased thanks to enterprises applying high technologies in waste treatment as well as producing environmentally friendly products, he added.

Park Yeon Jae from the Korea Ministry of Environment said he expected the experience of Korean enterprises in developing the environmental industry would work for Viet Nam.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resource and Environment Bui Cach Tuyen agreed with Korean experts, adding that Viet Nam had great potential for the development of the environmental industry.

He pointed out that the percentage of waste which could be recycled was up to about 80 per cent.

Tuyen emphasised the co-operation with Korean enterprises would be a good chance for Viet Nam enterprises to follow their Korean counterparts and develop their own businesses.

In addition, incentives must be given to encourage enterprises to invest in environment pollution treatment, said International Co-operation Department director Hoang Danh Son.

Policies on land use fee, taxation, capital allocation and subsidies should be made applicable to enterprises, he said.

Le Minh Duc, from the Viet Nam Environmental Industry Association, said the environment services in Viet Nam were mainly collecting and treating wastes.

The services must be diversified with the promotion of waste recycling and manufacturing environmentally friendly products, Duc said. The participation of private enterprises in the environmental industry was also important, he added.

The Korea Viet Nam Environmental Industry Co-operation Centre under the management of KEITI was opened in Viet Nam last month to help enhance environmental co-operation between the two countries.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News