Porto joins world leaders in Vietnam to discuss sustainable development and green economy

The councillor for Economy, Employment, and Entrepreneurship, Ricardo Valente, participated in the "CEO 100 Tea Connect” conference, where he stated that the green economy was not only an ethical choice but a "strategic imperative that can boost profit and long-term success term”.

In the initiative, which brings together big companies and organizations from around the world to share advice and encourage cooperation and investment, the councilor said he believes that "an approach focused on employment, entrepreneurship, and in the economy can lead to a more sustainable and resilient urban environment while promoting economic growth”.

The focus on training and educational programs, as well as urban agriculture, support for entrepreneurship linked to the circular economy, but also intervention in tax policies are, for Ricardo Valente, key points to promote this growth.

At the welcoming session, the president of Ho Chi Minh People’s Committee, Phan Van Mai, assured that the city is determined to develop a green development strategy, reinforcing the commitment to allocate the necessary resources to pursue the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

The participation of the Economy councillor in "CEO 100 Tea Connect” was highlighted by Tiền Phong. The Vietnamese daily reports that Ricardo Valente said that, in his city, "from the first grade on, students are taught to adapt to awareness of the importance of ecological principles and green growth”. "Vietnam is an agricultural country, suitable for green development in buildings and green spaces in the core of the city”, the newspaper quotes.

The councilor also added one can read in the Tiền Phong, the idea that "local governments are the biggest consumers in society and, therefore, should be pioneers in the use of green products, creating incentives for companies to produce”. "If the State does not participate in this process of green consumption, it will not be able to create motivation for society”, underscores Ricardo Valente.

On the sidelines of the Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum, the Economy councilor was received by one of the vice-chairmen of the Vietnamese city, Ngo Minh Chau. The meeting made it possible to address the main subjects covered in the Cooperation Agreement signed between both cities last July, especially the subjects linked to urban rehabilitation, environment, and technology.

Ngo Minh Chau thanked Porto for its willingness to share with the Vietnamese authorities some of the city’s know how and some of the strategies used in attracting investment and, above all, foreign investment, in supporting startups, in the circular economy, and in the commitment to carbon neutrality.

In his turn, Ricardo Valente highlighted the historical relationship between both countries, referring to Portugal as the gateway to the European and Portuguese-speaking market and the need to promote a truly effective students exchange at an academic level.