THE HANOI TIMES — The Green Economy Forum (GEF) 2025 will carry forward the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam’s flagship green initiative, bringing together policymakers, business leaders and innovators to turn climate ambitions into actionable solutions.

The event, under the theme “Shaping Changes, Building Futures,” will take place in Hanoi on November 27, Bruno Jaspaert, Chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham Vietnam) announced at a press briefing today (November 6).

Designed as a high-level platform for dialogue and collaboration, GEF 2025 will link the EU’s Green Deal and Global Gateway Initiative with Vietnam’s on-the-ground realities, turning strategic visions into actionable policies and investments.

“GEF 2025 is not just about frameworks - it’s about how sustainability can be lived and applied daily,” said Nguyen Phan Dinh, Co-Chair of EuroCham’s Green Growth Sector Committee and a member of the GEF Program Task Force.

“Whether it is cleaner transport, more efficient homes, or smarter manufacturing, every discussion here connects directly to how society and businesses operate,” he said.

From clean energy to green skills, this year’s nine forum sessions aim to make sustainability actionable, connecting global trends with steps that businesses and communities can implement immediately.

According to Pauline Duterte, GEF Project Manager and Head of Marketing & Communications at EuroCham, a highlight of this year’s forum is the trio of hands-on workshops led by our fellow European business associations – continuing the Team Europe spirit from last year’s GEFE.

“These workshops are designed to offer participants not just ideas, but practical pathways to act,” she said.

Turning climate ambitions into action

EuroCham Chairman Bruno Jaspaert emphasized that the urgency of green transition has never been greater.

According to him, Vietnam is already feeling the effects of climate change from severe flooding in the capital to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns across the nation. These events threaten livelihoods and communities alike.

Yet, amid these challenges lies an opportunity: to future-proof growth through sustainability, resilience and innovation.

Across continents, governments are racing to reconcile energy security with de-carbonization, to modernize infrastructure while protecting ecosystems and to ensure that prosperity benefits both people and planet.

Europe leads this race through transformative frameworks like the European Green Deal, Global Gateway, Net-Zero Industry Act and Circular Economy Act – all designed to anchor industrial competitiveness in climate resilience.

This shared vision strongly resonates in Vietnam. As one of Asia’s most dynamic emerging economies and a nation firmly committed to Net Zero by 2050, Vietnam is modernizing its energy system, reforming its electricity market and expanding renewable capacity – balancing affordability with long-term competitiveness.

“European investments focus on sectors that truly drive sustainable development, those that matter not only for today’s growth but for generations to come,” Jaspaert said.

He also noted that EuroCham’s recent Green Business Awards demonstrated how large corporations and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are embracing innovation from a green foundation, contributing collectively to a more sustainable and equitable future.

Major global frameworks such as the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and the Global Gateway are further aligning environmental and economic goals between the EU and Vietnam.

“As you may have seen at the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels last month, the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) continues to deliver concrete EU financial commitments for energy transition projects,” said Julien Guerrier, EU Ambassador to Vietnam.

He cited the signing of a 430-million-euro (US$495 million) JETP financial package between Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son and EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela.

“In times of global uncertainty, partnerships like the one between the EU and Vietnam matter more than ever,” the EU ambassador said.

“I am confident that in the years ahead, our cooperation will continue to deepen and bring tangible benefits to our businesses, our people and above all, our planet,” Guerrier added.