Mr. Hajime Wakuda discussed with Mr. Takashi Yanai, Corporate Officer, General Manager of Industrial Park and Sustainable City Strategic Business Unit, Sumitomo Corporation, and Mrs. Nguyen Thi Nga, President of BRG Group, in Tokyo on April 24, 2024

From Government pronouncements

In December 2023, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida chaired the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Leadership meeting, with participation by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and emphasized the importance of achieving the common goal of "net zero emissions through various pathways" as well as a triple breakthrough to simultaneously achieve "decarbonization, economic growth, and energy security."

Prime Minister Kishida noted Japan's efforts in developing and introducing next-generation GX (Green Transformation) technology and expressed willingness to share Japan's technology and expertise via the AZEC platform, which includes policy coordination through the "Asia Zero Emission Center", establishment of green supply chains through joint efforts such as the building of zero-emission industrial parks, and commercial collaboration among businesses. According to information released during the conference, Vietnam is Japan's first partner in the AZEC effort.

To the efforts of Japanese businesses in Vietnam

Sumitomo Corporation, one of Japan's and the world's largest enterprises has undertaken strategic adjustments toward being carbon-neutrality by 2050 through the development of innovative technologies and business models to build a sustainable energy cycle by lowering CO2 emissions and attaining net zero emissions for the entire society.

Sumitomo Corporation's efforts have received attention and support from the Japanese government. On April 24, in Tokyo, Mr. Hajime Wakuda, deputy commissioner for International Affairs, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy under the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, had a meeting with Sumitomo Corporation and strategic partner BRG Group about their aspirations to develop Smart City North Hanoi into the first carbon neutral urban area in Vietnam and the world.

At the conference, leaders of Sumitomo Corporation and BRG Group expressed their wish for Japan's active engagement for the North Hanoi Smart City to accomplish this goal, becoming a typical example of Hanoi and the rest of Vietnam in developing an increasingly sustainable environment and contribute to the early completion of the Vietnamese government's commitment at COP26 to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, as well as the national action plan to respond to climate change for the period 2021- 2030.

In addition, Sumitomo Corporation is planning to transition toward carbon neutrality in the linking area between Thang Long Industrial Park and the North Hanoi Smart City project using energy-saving technologies such as heat pumps and modern technologies, expertise, and experience of Japanese partner industries in creating renewable energy through solar and biomass power generation, as well as working and trading with one another on renewable energy to develop a smart and sustainable metropolitan environment, to be Vietnam's and the world's first carbon neutral city.