Award to inspire young writers to embrace green outlook

Vietnam faces a raft of foreboding climate change challenges

The Siemens Green Technology Journalism Award 2010, the first award of its kind in ASEAN, was established to identify, recognise and reward professional and young, aspiring ASEAN journalists who have reported on green technology, sustainability and environmental issues in the region.

Open to journalists in print and online media in ASEAN countries until December 31, 2010, the competition aimed to develop and advance quality reporting on these topics and to educate ASEAN communities with more knowledge on these issues, said Erdal Elver, Siemens Vietnam president and CEO.  “Concerns such as climate change, sustainable living and conservation are at the forefront of our modern society,” said Elver.

“Building sustainable economies is an imperative need to bring prosperity and preserve resources through the adoption of advanced and environment-friendly technologies,” he said.

Siemens group said with more knowledge, regional people would be able to better understand the profound effects of the megatrends affecting the world today, including urbanisation, globalisation, climate change and demographic change, and how they could do their part to support a more sustainable world.

The group itself has also been surfing megatrends to stabilise its business amid the financial crisis taking a heavy toll on the world’s economy, with green, energy-efficient solutions already generating a third of Siemens’ total revenue.

“Siemens is rigorously oriented to the global megatrends,” said Peter Loescher, president and CEO of Siemens.

“In a very difficult environment, Siemens has performed very well in 2009 and also in our first quarter of 2010 compared to its competitors,” he told VIR. 

“We have increased our profits by 11 per cent year-over-year in our first quarter 2010. The strong growth of our green portfolio stabilises the business in the crisis as we managed to increase our revenue with green products by 11 per cent year-over-year to €23 billion in 2009 and intend to push further growth,” he added.