Training Workshop on Strengthening Capacity for the Implementation of Sustainable Finance in Vietnam

The workshop brought together a wide range of participants, including representatives from government agencies, staff from financial institutions, lecturers, researchers, and experts interested in green finance and sustainable development. Representatives from various government bodies-including the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and the Ministry of Finance-as well as universities and major Vietnamese banks such as VPBank, VietinBank, BIDV, and Agribank, participated in the training. The program aimed to enhance the capacity of stakeholders to implement green finance policies and tools in Vietnam, particularly as the country continues to develop and refine its legal framework for green taxonomy and sustainable finance.

Plenary session of the training workshop. Photo: Organizing Committee

In her opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Thi Hoang Anh emphasized that Vietnam is gradually strengthening its legal framework for green growth. In particular, the Government’s issuance of Decision No. 21/2025/QĐ-TTg on environmental criteria and the certification of investment projects under the green taxonomy marks an important milestone. The decision provides a unified basis for credit institutions to identify, classify, and promote green credit activities. However, for these policies to be effectively implemented in practice, a key factor lies in the capacity of banking professionals, particularly in applying green taxonomy criteria, assessing environmental and social risks (ESG), and integrating sustainability considerations into banking operations and procedures.

Over the two-day program, the training workshop delivered a variety of technical sessions covering green finance policy frameworks, Vietnam’s Green Taxonomy, and practical tools for implementation in the banking and financial sector. The sessions combined expert presentations with interactive discussions, allowing participants to update their knowledge on recent regulatory developments while exchanging experiences related to the implementation of sustainable finance practices.

As part of the program, experts from KLINOVA contributed a specialized training session focusing on the practical application of Vietnam’s Green Taxonomy. The session was facilitated by Dr. Nguyen Phuong Nam, CEO of KLINOVA, with the support from other KLINOVA experts who assisted with technical guidance and group discussions.

During this session, the experts presented the process for identifying and certifying investment projects under the green taxonomy according to current regulations. The presentation covered key steps including project screening, assessing compliance with environmental criteria, preparing project documentation, selecting independent verification organizations, and the appraisal process by relevant government authorities. This session helped participants better understand how the green taxonomy can be applied in practice, as well as the role of financial institutions in supporting green investment projects.

In addition to the technical presentation, the session facilitated by KLINOVA also included interactive group discussions based on practical case studies, enabling participants to apply the concepts and tools introduced during the training. The groups examined several project scenarios, including a solar power system project, a PET plastic recycling production line, a circular agriculture farm model, and a bamboo-based product manufacturing project as an alternative to plastic. Through these exercises, participants practiced project screening, eligibility assessment, and providing guidance for project developers in preparing documentation in line with green taxonomy criteria.

Through discussions and group presentations, participants also exchanged views on unclear aspects of the current green taxonomy criteria and discussed potential challenges that financial institutions may face during implementation. Feedback and recommendations from the groups were synthesized and discussed with the experts, providing additional practical insights for the application of the green taxonomy in banking and investment activities.

Overall, the training workshop created a valuable platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange among policy makers, financial institutions, experts, and academic institutions in the field of sustainable finance. Through both technical presentations and practical exercises, the program contributed to strengthening stakeholders’ capacity to implement green taxonomy and promote sustainable finance, thereby supporting Vietnam’s transition toward green growth and sustainable development.

- Huu Hoang -