Finland wants to continue promoting cooperation with Vietnam in clean technology, Ambassador to Vietnam Pekka Hyvonen said.
He stressed the importance of environmental protection and improvement in sustainable development at a workshop on clean technology in Hanoi on Dec. 13.
Finland was one of the world’s leading nations in linking economic growth and clean technology, especially liquid waste treatment and renewable energy technologies, the ambassador said.
The workshop was a good opportunity for businesses from both countries to discuss impacts of urbanisation and industrialisation, and help map out detailed programmes to implement jointly early next year.
Finnish experts and companies were able to provide Vietnam with high-quality clean technology services, particularly in solutions for effective energy use which would help Vietnamese firms achieve better performance and profit, Ambassador Hyvonen said.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Le Danh Vinh hailed Finland’s assistance to Vietnam in recent years, emphasising that Finland was the first partner for Vietnam in clean technology.
According to the deputy minister, Vietnam was aware of impacts from global climate change as well as the relationship between sustainable development and environmental protection.
The country participated in and ratified the UN convention on climate change, the Kyoto Protocol, and issued a national environmental protection strategy to 2010 and vision to 2020, Deputy Minister Vinh said.
In addition, the ministry proposed the Government issue policies and programmes to help businesses to abandon backward technology in order to use cleaner technologies.
He described potential for cooperation in clean technology as a lever for both countries’ businesses to expand and boost economic and trade cooperation in the near future.
According to the ministry, bilateral trade was modest at 139 million USD in the first nine months of this year.
Finland had invested in five projects in Vietnam, with a total registered capital of 33.4 million USD.
