The conference “Meet to Meet the SDG” was co-organised by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), under the umbrella of the UN Global Compact Network Vietnam, as an initiative for all interested stakeholders to share experiences, ideas and support to achieve sustainable goals.

Leaders of 193 UN member states last September adopted the Agenda 2030 with 17 SDGs addressing challenges of economic development, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and good governance.

Seen as a call for innovation, reform and inclusion, the Agenda 2030 saw businesses as the key driver to achieving SDGs, with responsibilities and opportunities for the private sector of critical importance.

Speaking at the conference, Pratibha Mehta, UN resident coordinator in Vietnam, said SDGs were particularly suited to complex issues faced by middle-income countries like Vietnam.

In order to meet SDGs, the government, businesses and civil society must all participate, she said.

“The role of businesses will be central in achieving SDGs. Businesses have the power [to] lead change for social good. And businesses can innovate for inclusive and equitable societies.”

There should be no inherent conflict among economic, social and environmental impacts with SDGs, Mehta said.

According to Nguyen Quang Vinh, deputy general secretary of the VCCI, making SDGs come true is not only a duty, but also a great opportunity for businesses.

Vinh said the VCCI with its Office for Sustainable Development for Business would provide the private sector with guidance, networking, know-how, and recognition to make SDGs succeed for all businesses in Vietnam.

Florian Beranek, UNIDO’s lead expert on societal responsibility, said meeting SDGs would depend on inspired, creative and successful entrepreneurs.

Economic expert Pham Chi Lan said meeting SDGs was critical for Vietnam to achieve the aspirations of “Vietnam 2035: Towards Prosperity, Innovation, Equity, and Democracy” – the report launched last month by the World Bank and the Vietnamese government. The government, businesses and society will all benefit from meeting SDGs.

Lan said Vietnam must speed up institutional reforms, improve the business climate, and renovate the growth model from extensive to intensive.

In addition, businesses must strive to enhance competitiveness and to improve productivity and efficiency to compete amid rapid global integration.