French businesses reaffirm support for Vietnam's green growth at GEFE 2024

French businesses reaffirm support for Vietnam's Green Growth at GEFE 2024. Photo: CCIFV

The three-day Green Economy Forum & Exhibition (GEFE) 2024 from October 21 to 23 concluded with a successful showcase of French innovation and commitment to Vietnam’s green growth.

CCIFV president Thibaut Giroux highlighted the importance of collaboration between French and Vietnamese businesses in driving Vietnam’s green economy forward. "We are honoured to be a key connector, bringing together companies, ideas, and strategies that can contribute to Vietnam’s green economy. Our pavilion and the France Sequence at GEFE 2024 showcase the depth of French expertise in renewable energy, sustainable development, and environmental innovation," Giroux stated.

Green growth is a key feature of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established on October 7 between France and Vietnam. At GEFE 2024, leading companies from various sectors, including Total Energies, CMA CGM, Michelin, Aden, Hyvity, Saint-Gobain, Artelia, Green Yellow, ID Sud Energies, EDF, Air Liquide, and BPCE, alongside the AFD (French Development Agency), united to showcase innovative, sustainable solutions that contribute to Vietnam’s green economy. The discussions centred around green energy and sustainable urban mobility.

Artelia’s chairman, Benoit Clocheret, highlighted Artelia’s ambition to be a key player in Vietnam’s path to Net Zero and expressed willingness to combine their French savoir-faire with local partnerships. "Our low-carbon mobility solutions, successfully implemented in French cities, can be applied to urban areas in Vietnam to reduce emissions. Since 2006, Artelia has brought our expertise to Vietnam through various initiatives, including hydropower development and solar and wind energy projects across Southeast Asia. Artelia has been involved in Ho Chi Minh City’s Metro Line 1 project and hopefully in the Metro line 2 soon."

Michelin, renowned for its strong commitment to sustainability, shared its achievement of a 56 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions in Vietnam in 2024 compared to the previous year. With a budget of up to €1.2 billion ($1.3 bilion) allocated for research and development in 2023, Michelin is reinforcing its position as one of the world's leading innovative brands and Michelin aims for over 40 per cent of the raw materials used to produce tires are from renewable or recycled materials by 2030.

CMA CGM Group, firmly committed to the energy transition in shipping and a pioneer in the use of alternative fuels, strongly affirmed its Net Zero Carbon target for 2050. In Vietnam, the group recently launched its “Switch to E-Motorbike” programme for employees, promoting long-term e-mobility solutions.

Aden, with 25 years of experience in Vietnam, expressed its excitement in partnering with Vietnamese companies eager to decarbonize their properties. "We have always believed in Vietnam’s potential and are excited to support its net-zero goals through collaboration," said a representative from Aden.

Other prominent companies such as Saint-Gobain, EDF, Air Liquide, and Total Energies also participated in the France Sequence, showcasing their expertise and reaffirming their commitment to helping Vietnam achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

IDSUD Energies, a new player in Vietnam, is committed to enhancing financial and operational sustainability through its expertise in solar photovoltaic plants. The company brings years of international experience to help Vietnam's businesses transition to greener energy solutions.

Green Yellow, operating in Vietnam since 2020, has significantly contributed to the renewable energy landscape. With a total investment of €103 million ($111.5 million), Green Yellow has installed 1.2 million square metres of photovoltaic panels, providing enough energy to power 8,300 homes annually and reducing CO2 emissions by 147,000 tonnes, the equivalent of planting 3.3 million trees.

HAD, a joint venture between Hyvity, a French company specialising in hydropower plant development, and Novasia, a pioneer in wind greenfield projects in Vietnam, is collaborating with Vietnamese partners to develop renewable energy projects. This partnership underscores the importance of international collaboration in advancing Vietnam’s green energy transition.

French investors line up for metro projects Vietnam and France are solidifying their transport infrastructure cooperation by various means, with a focus on metro line development.

GEFE 2024 to focus on Vietnam - EU sustainability efforts The 2024 Green Economy Forum & Exhibition (GEFE) opened its doors on October 21 and is expected to attract over 8,000 participants across its three-day agenda filled with high-level dialogues, exhibitions, and networking opportunities.

Swedish Pavilion at GEFE 2024 The Swedish Pavilion is showcasing innovative green solutions at the ongoing Green Economy Forum and Exhibition (GEFE) 2024, aiming to boost cooperation between the two countries towards net-zero.