This year’s event would focus on “sustainable cities”, said Alain Cany, chairman of EuroCham at press conference on the event, which is organised by EuroCham in partnership with Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC).
“It is said that cities will determine the success of the shift to sustainability as a sustainable city is a model that can “feed itself with minimal reliance on the surrounding countryside, can power itself with renewable sources of energy and is overall energy efficient,” said Cany.
Cany also announced that GreenBiz 2011 would include a conference designed to comprehensively address the specific challenges in key sectors like sustainable cities, climate change, energy supply and green manufacturing in Vietnam.
Erdal Elver, president of Siemens Vietnam, the exclusive diamond sponsor of GreenBiz 2011 said: “Our survey reveals that cities consume 75 per cent of the world’s energy and produce more than 80 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions, mostly CO2.”
Olivier Jacquet, Schneider Electric’s country president, said: “In the past five years, electricity consumption in Vietnam has surged yearly by 12 to 15 per cent. Electrical generation can hardly cope with such a high growth rate, resulting in today’s global electricity shortage situation”.
“If there was ever a time to focus on implementing solutions for sustainable development, that time is now,” said Cany.
Organisers expect GreenBiz 2011, which is to be held in Ho Chi Minh City from September 15-16, will attract 100 exhibitors, around 20 sponsors and more than 4,000 visitors.
GreenBiz 2011 is the number one forum on sustainable business solutions in Vietnam.
Vietnam is at the frontline of the war on climate change with experts saying this country will bear the brunt of environmental change.
VIR