On September 16, at the 2025 Sustainable Development Sharing Program with the media with the theme "Strengthening governance and conservation of water resources for sustainable development goals and effective adaptation to climate change", Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Chairman of the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD) Nguyen Quang Vinh emphasized the vital role of water resource management for the economy and the community.

VCCI Vice Chairman, VBCSD Chairman Nguyen Quang Vinh delivered the opening speech, affirming the importance of water resource management.

According to the VCCI Vice Chairman, Vietnam is facing major challenges in water security. Total surface water resources are estimated at 830-840 billion m³/year and groundwater is about 47.5 - 63 billion m³/year. However, only about 37% of available water is created within the territory, the remaining 75% depends on cross-border flows. “Water resource management is a vital requirement for economic development, energy security and social stability,” Vice ChairmanNguyen Quang Vinh emphasized.

Water not only serves agricultural, industrial and service production but is also the “blood vessel” connecting all development activities. He also affirmed that clean water is the key for Vietnam to implement Sustainable Development Goals No. 6 (clean water), No. 12 (sustainable consumption and production) and No. 13 (response to climate change).

In that context, the role of the business sector in conserving and effectively using water resources is increasingly emphasized. Many large corporations and companies in Vietnam have pioneered in implementing sustainable water management initiatives, improving water saving technology, reusing and recycling water in production activities.

Nestlé Vietnam has announced the goal of returning to the community and the environment an amount of clean water equivalent to 100% of the amount of water used in production activities by 2025. HEINEKEN Vietnam has built a model of afforestation, protecting biodiversity, and reimbursing more than 690 million liters of water per year for the Tien River basin. BAT Vietnam and Samsung Vietnam have fulfilled their commitment to have 100% of their factories achieve AWS Water Management certification. Suntory Pepsico Vietnam has implemented the Water of Life program for the 10th year, focusing on water conservation and raising public awareness.

Several other food and beverage companies have also achieved a water savings rate of up to 30% per product unit within 5 years, while investing in technology to reuse 100% of treated wastewater for non-production activities.

The Vice Chairman of VCCI said that these models affirm that water conservation is not only a cost but also a strategic investment. “Enterprises reduce risks, increase reputation, access green capital and meet global ESG requirements,” said Vice Chairman Nguyen Quang Vinh. However, he also pointed out that not all businesses have enough potential to participate. Small and medium-sized enterprises still face many difficulties in finance, technology, as well as lack of support mechanisms. This makes the replication of sustainable models still limited.

According to the Vice Chairman of VCCI, there needs to be support from many sides: state policies, resources from financial institutions and especially the participation of the press. The media not only spreads successful models, but also contributes to inspiring and connecting the community to action. He emphasized: “As a bridge between knowledge, information and action, I believe that with our voices, the reporters and editors present here today can contribute to replicating successful models”.

Vice Chairman Nguyen Quang Vinh hopes that when the press accompanies, a pioneering enterprise can become hundreds, even thousands of responding enterprises, turning each liter of water saved into a national flow, contributing to the conservation of water resources in the territory.

Therefore, this Press Dialogue Program is organized not only as a regular conference, but also as a cooperation forum, where the press and enterprises together write a new story for water resource management. Following the morning workshop, delegates also had a field trip to the Coca-Cola Hanoi factory in the afternoon of the same day. Here, guests had the opportunity to witness the water-saving and recycling production model, and listen directly to the staff operating the clean and responsible production line.

Overview of the 2025 Sustainable Development Sharing Program with the Media with the theme “Strengthening governance and conservation of water resources for sustainable development and effective adaptation to climate change”.

The Vice Chairmanof VCCI expressed his hope that after the program, the business community will see water saving and recycling as a strategic priority. At the same time, the press will continue to accompany to spread the right awareness in society, contributing to forming water-friendly production habits and promoting sustainable consumption.

In the long term, water resource management is not only the responsibility of the Government, but also the practical benefit of businesses and the community. When water resources are degraded, all economic sectors are affected; conversely, when water is conserved, sectors from agriculture, industry to services have a stable foundation for development.

The message from the program shows that businesses are not left out. They are and will continue to be important actors in the flow of water conservation. However, for this effort to spread more strongly, it requires the cooperation of the entire ecosystem from policy, finance, science and technology to communication and consumers.