The Ministry of Environment, led by Minister Han Wha-jin, announced that from September 13th to 15th, it sent a Green Industry Procurement Support Team, headed by Vice Minister Lim Sang-jun, to actively collaborate with the Vietnamese government in tackling challenges in Vietnam, demonstrating the Ministry's dedication.

On September 13th, Vice Minister Lim Sang-jun of the Ministry of Environment held a meeting with companies that have entered the Vietnamese market at the InterContinental Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. During this gathering, the companies highlighted the greatest challenges they face, including the ambiguity of Vietnamese regulations, administrative delays due to complex procedures, and schedule delays in projects resulting from the lack of coordination in related projects. They requested the South Korean government to work in collaboration with the Vietnamese government to alleviate these difficulties.

The following day, Vice Minister Lim Sang-jun of the Ministry of Environment held a bilateral meeting with Bui Xuan Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, to convey the challenges faced by Korean companies. They also agreed to expedite the 450-billion-won project for the installation of a smart sewage treatment facility undertaken by Korean companies in Ho Chi Minh City. This project marks the first case of the public-private partnership* model recently introduced in Vietnam, highlighting the importance of support from relevant authorities.

* Public-Private Partnership (PPP): A collaboration model where businesses present investment and development plans, as well as funding strategies, to the host government. The government, after conducting feasibility assessments and negotiations, approves whether to proceed with the project.

Furthermore, Vice Minister Lim Sang-jun enthusiastically agreed to the policy and technology exchange proposed by Vice Chairman Bui Xuan Cuong. As a result, the support program for overseas civil servants' master's degree courses, which currently benefits Korean civil servants, will be expanded to include Vietnamese civil servants. This expansion aims to facilitate the more effective transfer of South Korea's environmental policies to Vietnam.

Vice Minister Lim Sang-jun also urged Le Cong Thanh, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in Vietnam, to expedite the process and approval of environmental impact assessments, which is one of the most challenging aspects for Korean companies entering Vietnam.

In response, Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh welcomed South Korea's entry into Vietnam and promised to commit to actively reviewing and expediting Korean projects. Vice Minister Lim Sang-jun mentioned that currently, there is an investment project of approximately 100 billion KRW underway, including private sector investments in waste incineration, and it is expected to expand further in the future.

The Ministry of Environment is making comprehensive efforts this year to achieve the goal of generating 20 trillion won in contracts and exports this year, aiming for a total of 100 trillion won within the current administration. The Ministry is actively promoting South Korea's excellence in green industries globally by accompanying companies to any location worldwide when needed, to support overseas procurement and exports.

Vice Minister Lim Sang-jun of the Ministry of Environment stated, "There are various challenges depending on the local characteristics, and addressing these challenges is the government's role." He added, "The Ministry of Environment will work through intergovernmental cooperation to alleviate the difficulties in green exports and create an era of success for the export of green industries."

Contact: Keum Byoung-uk, Deputy Director

Green International Project TF / +82-(0)44-201-7563