Participants at the meeting.
This year's High Council includes returning and new members such as Bui Minh Tien, Member of the Board of Members of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PVN); Associate Professor Ta Hai Tung, Rector of the School of Information and Communication Technology at Hanoi University of Science and Technology; and Nguyen Trong Khang, Chairman of MK Group.
Pham Tuan Anh, Editor in Chief of Dantri/Dtinews Newspaper and Head of the ESG Vietnam Forum Organising Committee, said the inaugural ESG Vietnam Forum in 2024 drew strong interest from experts and the business community with its theme of strategies for sustainable development in a new era.
Editor in Chief of Dantri/Dtinews Newspaper and Head of the ESG Vietnam Forum Organising Committee, Pham Tuan Anh, speaks at the meeting.
"The 2025 forum will focus on key levers for sustainable growth," Pham said. He called for the council's input on thematic workshops, satellite events, the main forum day, and the Vietnam ESG Awards 2025.
At the meeting, Associate Professor Nguyen Duc Trung, Rector of the University of Banking in Ho Chi Minh City, praised the forum's planned topics and suggested learning from companies applying AI in governance.
Le Thai Ha, Executive Director of the VinFuture Foundation and the Green Future Fund, recommended clarifying tech-enabled ESG governance and aligning the use of technology with each of the ESG pillars. She also proposed relevant topics for satellite events.
The organising committee plans to introduce a new company tour where participants can observe ESG operations and technology at leading firms. Ha proposed featuring ESG Award winners from 2024 to showcase real-world results.
Nguyen Trong Khang of the MK Group emphasised the importance of aligning ESG with international standards and addressing the legal and ethical risks associated with using AI in ESG. "Without caution, companies risk legal violations," he warned.
Bui Minh Tien of PVN emphasised that data continuity is essential for ESG reporting, making technology a key enabler. He noted the limited ESG engagement by Vietnamese firms and called for practical tools and success stories to drive adoption.
Member of the Board of Members of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PVN), Bui Minh Tien (right), and Chairman of MK Group, Nguyen Trong Khang attend the meeting.
PVN initiated internal ESG training in 2022, and some of its subsidiaries have already produced audited ESG reports. Tien proposed inviting government representatives to discuss policy reforms, suggesting ESG reporting should be legally mandated.
Tran Thi Thuy Ngoc, Executive Vice President of Deloitte Vietnam, recommended offering an ESG overview that compares Vietnam's global position and features both large companies and startups with successful ESG applications.
"Vietnam is refining its ESG legal framework. Businesses need up-to-date policy guidance to adapt," she said.
Bui Thanh Minh from the Private Sector Development Research Board proposed shifting focus from enterprise-level action to national policy, calling ESG a national economic driver. He said the first forum laid the groundwork for institutional discussions.
Nguyen Duc Minh of HAMI highlighted business concerns about global ESG policies. He urged greater diversity among speakers, both domestically and internationally, including private and multinational companies, to broaden learning opportunities and perspectives.
Giando Zappia of EuroCham said many firms use ESG and AI as branding tools but face real financial hurdles. He suggested sector-specific sessions to offer targeted support and risk management insights.
Associate Professor Nguyen Dinh Tho from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development proposed focusing satellite workshops entirely on technology and AI, especially in response to global ESG policy shifts, such as seafood import rules or deforestation regulations.
Tho also recommended auditing and tech firms offering AI solutions to help SMEs create ESG reports. "ESG should be a support tool, not a burden," he said. He proposed focusing on living transformation, encompassing both green and digital aspects, and highlighting benefits such as access to credit and market expansion.
Associate Professor Ta Hai Tung of Hanoi University of Science and Technology said ESG awareness remains low and proposed community-wide training programmes. His university is ready to support such efforts.
Concluding the meeting, Dantri/Dtinews' Editor-in-Chief Pham Tuan Anh praised the feedback and confirmed that two satellite workshops will be held before the main forum. These events will shape the forum's final agenda based on input from regulators, companies, and ESG stakeholders.
A highlight of the event will be the Vietnam ESG Awards 2025, which will honour companies that have excelled in applying technology for sustainable development. Pham said the organising committee and councils will refine the evaluation framework to include more focus on science and innovation.
