Opening Market Access and Green Finance for Vietnamese Agricultural Enterprises

The Institute for Research on Sustainable Development Management (MSD) has organized a series of training workshops titled “ESG – The Key to Opening Market Access and Green Finance for Vietnamese Agricultural Enterprises” in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang from late October to mid-November 2025.

This activity is part of the project “Promoting Green Investment and Credit for Agricultural Enterprises for Sustainable Development” (AGREEN), with technical and financial support from Oxfam and Fair Finance Asia, aiming to help Vietnamese agricultural enterprises align with global sustainability standards and enhance their access to green finance.

The workshops also aim to strengthen ESG capacity among Vietnamese agricultural businesses. The events provided updates on global ESG policies, domestic trends, and European regulations directly affecting the coffee value chain — particularly the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

The program also promotes public–private cooperation in implementing the EUDR, connects enterprises with sources of green finance, introduces sustainable financial instruments, and creates a multidimensional consultation and networking platform among businesses, banks, experts, and development organizations.

Participants include agricultural enterprises, cooperatives, industry associations (such as coffee, aquaculture, and rice), as well as agritech startups, financial institutions, and agricultural development support organizations.

According to Ms. Nguyễn Phương Linh, M.A., Director of MSD, through the AGREEN Project, the organizers hope to accompany Vietnamese agricultural enterprises on their journey of practicing ESG and connecting with green credit, thereby jointly promoting sustainable development.

From there, Vietnamese agricultural enterprises will be able to grasp both the trend and the inevitable demand of the era—that green transformation is not only a responsibility but also an opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to “grow together” with the world.

On this occasion, Ms. Phạm Tuyết Mai, Project Manager for Fair Finance at Oxfam in Vietnam, expressed her belief that ESG practices and fair finance not only help businesses access green capital but also contribute to building a fairer, more inclusive, and more responsible economy.

Also at the event, Dr. Bùi Thanh Minh, Deputy Director of the Office of the Advisory Board for Private Economic Development (Board IV), shared strategic perspectives on the context, challenges, and opportunities for Vietnam’s agricultural sector.

Dr. Bùi Thanh Minh emphasized that ESG is not a slogan, an obligation, or merely a tool, but rather something that must be integrated into the very DNA of a business—from its mindset and operations to its governance culture. This applies to all enterprises, large or small, as ESG serves as the foundation that enables businesses to stay resilient in a rapidly changing market.

Dr. Minh affirmed that the current moment offers more opportunities than challenges: enterprises that dare to commit, innovate, and embrace green and responsible transformation early will be the ones to advance faster and further in the global value chain.

As part of the program, guest speakers Ms. Mạc Tuyết Nga, Senior Program Manager for Coffee at the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), and Mr. Trần Khánh, Director of Corporate Banking at Bac A Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Bac A Bank), shared practical insights on implementing ESG in the agricultural sector. Their discussions focused on traceability requirements, transparency, and environmental responsibility under the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), while also introducing green finance solutions, preferential credit programs, and supportive tools to assist enterprises in their transition toward sustainable agricultural models.

The in-depth consultation session, featuring two information stations, created a direct connection space between enterprises and financial institutions, helping to comprehensively address both technical and financial challenges in the process of implementing ESG practices.

At Consultation Station 1 – “Technical: Enhancing Environmental (E) and Social (S) Factors”, experts shared experiences in environmental management, emission reduction, strengthening traceability, as well as measures to improve worker welfare and occupational safety within agricultural value chains.

Consultation Station 2 – “Finance: Accessing Green Capital” focused on providing information and specific guidance on green credit products, loan procedures, and requirements for green investment documentation.

Source: Nhân Dân Newspaper