The event was attended by Mr. Dang Hai Dung, Deputy Director of Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Development Department, and Ms. Yang Seo Hyeon, Deputy Country Director of KOICA in Vietnam, representatives from provincial Departments of Industry and Trade, energy-saving centers in southern provinces and cities, industrial enterprises, energy experts from Korea and Vietnam, energy audit organizations, energy sector entities, commercial banks, and many media outlets.

The project "Promoting Energy Efficiency Investment Market in the industrial sector and Supporting the National Green Growth Action Plan of Vietnam" was launched in 2021 and will continue until 2025, with a total funding of $6.4 million. The Korean government funds the project through KOICA and aims to contribute to Vietnam's national goal of reducing energy intensity by improving energy efficiency in the industrial sector. It also seeks to ensure energy security for socio-economic development and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Dang Hai Dung emphasized that energy efficiency is a crucial solution at every level, from national economic sectors to individual businesses and households. Using energy efficiently and conservatively is both a long-term strategic approach and an urgent necessity at present, contributing to energy security, reducing dependence on imported fuel, and improving the economy's overall efficiency.

Recognizing the importance of energy efficiency and conservation, on March 13, 2019, the Prime Minister issued a Decision approving the Vietnam National Energy Efficiency Programme for the 2019-2030 (VNEEP3). The program sets a target to achieve energy savings of 5.0 to 7.0% of the total national energy consumption from 2019 to 2025, and 8.0 to 10.0% from 2019 to 2030.
 
“To achieve these goals, in addition to the efforts of the government, domestic organizations, and individuals, the Vietnamese government has also received support from many countries and non-governmental organizations. The Promoting Energy Efficiency Investment Market in the Industrial Sector and Supporting the National Green Growth Action Plan of Vietnam Project is part of the cooperation between the governments of Vietnam and South Korea, contributing to the objectives of VNEEP3 in the industrial sector and Vietnam’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050,” stated by Mr Dang Hai Dung.

The project comprises five main components: Component 1: Developing energy efficiency investment projects; Component 2: Supporting the implementation of energy consumption standards and technical guidelines for green growth; Component 3: Enhancing capacity related to energy efficiency investments in the industrial sector and implementing the Green Growth Action Plan. Component 4: Conducting surveys, research, and developing provincial Green Growth Action Plans; Component 5: Promoting and raising awareness about energy efficiency solutions and provincial Green Growth Action Plans. In which, The Ministry of Industry and Trade is the host unit and responsible for implementing the project's energy efficiency components.

Speaking at the seminar, Ms. Yang Seo Hyeon, Deputy Director of KOICA Vietnam, stated: "Promoting Energy Efficiency Investment Market in the Industrial Sector and Supporting the National Green Growth Action Plan of Vietnam" project has been implemented by KOICA and the Ministry of Industry and Trade since 2021, aimed at improving energy efficiency in Vietnam’s industrial sector, contributing to environmental protection and sustainable development. Today’s seminar is a meaningful opportunity to share the project’s results and discuss future cooperation plans and activities”.

Ms. Yang Seo Hyeon, Deputy Director of KOICA Vietnam, shared that within the framework of the project activities to promote energy-saving and efficiency investment markets, 20 key industrial enterprises in energy-intensive sectors such as paper, steel, plastics, fertilizers, and cement production have been selected to participate in energy audits in 2023 and 2024. Additionally, the project is supporting the preparation of pre-feasibility studies for at least 10 energy-saving investment projects, feasibility studies for at least 5 energy-saving investment projects, and loan application dossiers for 3-5 energy-saving investment projects.

Moreover, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in collaboration with KOICA, is implementing capacity-building activities related to energy efficiency investment in the industrial sector and supporting the enforcement of energy consumption standards.

At the seminar, delegates listened to 05 presentations from both Korean and Vietnamese speakers, these presentations focused on various topics such as an overview of the project, sharing energy audit results from participating companies in the North and South, introducing the Energy Management and Energy Audit training materials, showcasing energy-saving equipment investment cases, and presenting the Risk Sharing Fund, coordinated by Saigon-Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SHB).

Through the seminar, the project's activities and results were disseminated to the industrial business community and society at large, aiming to promote the energy efficiency investment market. It also helped industrial enterprises identify energy-saving solutions, share project implementation experiences, and access financial loans to effectively carry out energy-saving projects.