Opening the seminar, Prof. Dr. Bui Minh Trung, Director of the Institute for Socio-Economic Development Research, underscored that ESG is no longer an optional trend but has become a new development standard, reflecting enterprises’ long-term competitiveness, risk resilience, and social responsibility in a globalized economy.

Prof. Dr. Bui Minh Trung, Director of the Institute for Socio-Economic Development Research

According to Prof. Dr. Bui Minh Trung, integrating ESG practices with innovation and digital transformation enables Vietnamese enterprises to enhance growth quality, access green capital flows, meet increasingly stringent international market requirements, and make tangible contributions to national sustainable development goals.

The seminar devoted significant time to in-depth expert presentations, offering a comprehensive perspective from policy, science, and technology to practical ESG implementation at the enterprise level.

In his presentation, “The Competitive Advantages of ESG Adoption,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Tho, expert from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, analyzed how ESG helps enterprises improve governance efficiency, mitigate environmental and social risks, enhance transparency and brand credibility, thereby expanding access to markets and sustainable investment capital.

Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Đình Thọ – Experts from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment

From an international perspective, Mr. Jaime Amoedo Lucas, Chairman and CEO of ESGI, presented on innovation collaboration opportunities, ESG adoption, and the dual green–digital transformation in Vietnam. He emphasized the need for Vietnam to shift decisively toward data-driven governance, recognizing ESG data as critical soft infrastructure to support evidence-based decision-making, emissions control, and long-term national competitiveness.

Mr. Jaime Amoedo Lucas, Chairman and CEO of ESGI

Regarding the innovation ecosystem, Ms. Bui Thanh Hang, representative of the Agency for Market Development and Science & Technology Enterprises (MOST), proposed new technology incubator models to support enterprises—particularly science and technology firms and startups in applying digital technologies to ESG practices and green transition.

Ms. Bui Thanh Hang

From an implementation perspective, Mr. Dang Huy Dong, Chairman of the Vietnam Green Transition Association, focused on greenhouse gas management and ESG reporting requirements, stressing the urgency of data standardization, transparency, and compliance with international standards.

Mr Dang Huy Dong

Meanwhile, Mr. Hoang Van Hoan, expert from the Ministry of Finance, presented on “Green Finance and Policy Support for ESG Implementation,” highlighting the role of green financial instruments, incentive mechanisms, and policy frameworks in encouraging enterprises to shift toward sustainable growth models.

Mr Hoang Van Hoan

Through expert discussions and exchanges, the seminar clarified the interconnectedness between innovation, digital transformation, and ESG practices, emphasizing the critical role of data, green finance, and enabling policies in the green transition journey of Vietnamese enterprises.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hien – Representative of the Institute of International Economics and Law

Concluding the seminar, Prof. Dr. Bui Minh Trung commended the quality of the presentations and the constructive dialogue among participants, reaffirming that ESG has become an inevitable requirement for sustainable development and enhanced competitiveness of Vietnamese enterprises. He affirmed the Institute’s continued commitment to policy research, advisory services, and ESG promotion in collaboration with ministries, local authorities, and the business community.

Launching the Vietnam ESG Accolade 2026: Scaling Up Sustainable Practices

Within the framework of the workshop, the Vietnam ESG Accolade 2026 was officially inaugurated. The award aims to recognize enterprises and organizations for their exemplary ESG initiatives and implementation models, thereby fostering a culture of sustainable development, innovation, and green transition across the business community with a particular focus on the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) sector.

The Organizing Committee envisions this accolade as a prestigious platform that empowers Vietnamese businesses to enhance corporate governance, ensure ESG data transparency, and integrate more effectively into global value chains.