Green Industry – Phu Tho’s Strategic Choice for a Sustainable Future

On Vietnam’s industrial map, Phu Tho Province stands out not only for its robust investment attraction but also for its steadfast principle: pursue economic development without compromising environmental integrity.

Indeed, recent investment figures are impressive. The province is home to 16 operational industrial parks, which together host 846 secondary investment projects—consisting of 521 FDI projects and 325 DDI projects. These have become economic pillars, significantly contributing to public revenues and providing jobs for tens of thousands. Yet, the critical challenge remains: how to welcome FDI inflows without repeating the mistakes of places that paid dearly due to environmental degradation?

The answer for Phu Tho lies in a guiding principle: never trade environmental health for economic gains. Each licensing decision meticulously evaluates factors such as technology quality, resource consumption, and pollution risk. Projects that rely on outdated, energy-intensive, or polluting technologies are rejected from the start. Instead, priority is given to high-tech, clean, resource-efficient industries—especially those from countries with stringent environmental standards.

Ba Thien II Industrial Park in Binh Xuyen Commune is surrounded by a green landscape system, creating a fresh and pleasant environment.

A clear example is Ba Thien II Industrial Park in Binh Xuyen Commune, spanning over 308 hectares. The park features modern infrastructure, a landscaped green environment, and an internationally certified wastewater treatment plant with a capacity of 10,000 m3/day, ensuring safe discharge that doesn’t impact nearby communities.

Thanks to these environmental standards, Ba Thien II Industrial Park has successfully attracted a number of major enterprises, including TAL Vietnam (Hong Kong), Nippon Paint (Singapore), Weldex Vina (USA), Assa Abloy (Sweden), and Polaris (USA). The park has drawn in over USD 900 million in total investment, created jobs for more than 23,000 workers, and reached an occupancy rate of 75%.

This approach is not an exception but has become a prevailing trend across other projects in Phu Tho. A prime example is Thang Long Industrial Park, invested by Sumitomo Corporation (Japan), which pioneered the installation of a 4MWp solar power system at the time of operation. This initiative not only reduces CO2 emissions but also lowers operating costs for secondary investors. The park exclusively welcomes high-tech industries such as automotive and motorcycle parts manufacturing, electronics, and precision engineering—sectors known for their minimal environmental impact.

Thang Long Industrial Park, invested by Sumitomo Corporation (Japan), applies a wide range of modern technologies aimed at protecting the environment.

Companies operating in Thang Long Industrial Park are also actively “greening” their workplace environments.

Even newly established clusters like Dong Soc Industrial Cluster in Vinh Tuong Commune were designed from the outset as integrated, multi-sector industrial zones with a green orientation. The cluster targets environmentally responsible manufacturing sectors such as high-tech industries, supporting industries, mechanical engineering, information technology, telecommunications, and electronics. These industries bring high added value while limiting emissions and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. To date, the cluster has attracted 23 investment projects, including 6 FDI and 32 DDI projects, reaching an occupancy rate of 92%. Its synchronized planning, with environmental standards incorporated from the preparation phase, helps Phu Tho avoid the risks and costs of reactive pollution mitigation.

By 2030, Phu Tho aims to establish an eco-industrial corridor linking Vinh Yen, Binh Xuyen, and Tam Duong. This corridor will include next-generation industrial parks integrated with shared infrastructure, renewable energy systems, and circular waste models. To this end, the province has proactively partnered with international organizations to build and implement UNIDO-standard eco-industrial park frameworks, as recommended by the Ministry of Planning and Investment. This will help position Phu Tho as a pioneer in greening the industrial sector, contributing to Vietnam’s national commitment to net-zero emissions.

Clearly, behind these strategic decisions lies not only economic prudence but also a long-term vision for public health and quality of life. Provincial leaders recognize that a clean, livable environment is the true foundation for sustainable, long-term investment.

Le Minh