Enhancing growth quality with focus on environment

Binh Duong is striving towards a green and circular economy. A series of solutions have been implemented to minimize negative environmental impacts and improve the quality of economic growth.

Strong transformation on industrial model

Binh Duong is currently focusing on transforming its existing industrial model towards eco-industrial and high-tech industries. Industrial parks, namely Vietnam-Singapore, My Phuoc and Bau Bang, are pioneering in building environmentally friendly production ecosystems, attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) that meets green standards. Many enterprises have invested in renewable energy systems such as solar power and circular wastewater treatment.

A typical example is Apparel Far Eastern (Vietnam) Co., Ltd., located in Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park 1 in Thuan An city, which specializes in garment production. The company has successfully applied and maintained the ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System, ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management System and ISO 14064:2018 standard for greenhouse gas emissions management. It also implements the 5-S method (a workplace organization method) to minimize waste, optimize material use and continuously improve factory operations, creating a clean and safe working environment.

Meanwhile, Wipro Consumer Care Vietnam Co., Ltd., also based in VSIP 1 and specializing in the production and distribution of personal and home care products, has applied international management systems such as GMP, ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001. Since 2016, the company has eliminated PVC (a thermoplastic plastic made from vinyl chloride polymerization) from its product lines and replaced it with environmentally friendly and recyclable materials. The company has also strictly controlled emission activities and implemented various community initiatives such as tree planting, waste collection and marine environmental protection.

According to Tran Thanh Quang, Head of provincial Environmental Protection Sub-Department, Binh Duong is restructuring its industrial sector based on innovation, attracting high-tech and creative science projects and highly skilled human resources. With this goal, the province always seeks a harmonious balance between economic-social development and environmental protection. Since 2020, Binh Duong has rejected 488 out of 943 non-industrial zone investment projects that did not meet environmental protection standards. Additionally, the province has issued policies to support the relocation of polluting facilities from residential and urban areas. Thanks to these efforts, Binh Duong not only maintains economic growth, but also minimizes environmental harm, aiming for sustainable development.

Advancing agriculture

Along with industrial development, Binh Duong has paid special importance to protecting agricultural land and promoting high-tech agriculture. The province has encouraged the development of green agriculture, balancing economic goals with environmental protection, supported farmers with capital, technical training and land-use planning to foster production while preserving natural landscapes.

In Phu Giao district, many farms have applied new technologies to increase productivity and reduce environmental impacts. For instance, An Thai High-tech Agricultural Park of U&I Agriculture Corporation (Unifarm) in An Thai commune has applied high-tech methods to cultivate tissue-cultured bananas, green-skinned pomelos and netted muskmelons. This model has helped Unifarm generate a post-tax profit of over VND 4.5 billion per year. The company has also collaborated with local households to guide them in cultivation techniques and product marketing, strictly adhering to technical processes and ensuring biosafety and environmental hygiene. Meanwhile, North Tan Uyen district stands out with the province's largest citrus fruit cultivation area. Notably, Lam Thanh Thuong's farm in Hieu Liem commune spans 50 hectares and annually supplies about 5,000 tons of citrus fruits such as oranges, tangerines and pomelos, all produced following the VietGAP process. The fruits meet quality standards and are trusted by the market, generating over VND 2 billion in profit each year.

Mr. Thuong shared that in the past, local farmers grew fruit trees using traditional methods. He pioneered the application of new techniques such as trenching and mound planting to control fruiting and prevent pests more effectively. He also used a method to induce off-season fruiting by covering tree rows with plastic sheets, temporarily creating drought-like conditions. This allows for year-round harvesting and a steady supply to the market, improving economic efficiency.

Notably, North Tan Uyen district is also developing eco-tourism models associated with agriculture. Many fruit orchards such as Sol Retreat Farm of Lam Thanh Thuong are now open to visitors for tours and fruit harvesting experiences, creating additional income for farmers…

According to leaders of provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, Binh Duong is focusing on developing high-value crops and livestock, reducing fragmented production and encouraging urban agriculture models combined with tourism to improve land-use efficiency. Currently, many farms in the province use greenhouse technologies, automatic irrigation systems and produce under VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards. There is also an emphasis on organic farming, reducing the use of pesticides and reusing agricultural by-products.

Binh Duong aims at developing an ecological economy based on the resonance between industry, agriculture, urban areas and traffic. In this vision, eco-industrial development is built on the foundation of clean energy; eco-agriculture is integrated with green living spaces along the Dong Nai and Saigon rivers, forming a harmonious agriculture-urban ecosystem. Smart traffic is developed under the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) model, connecting waterways and railways with modern transport systems to reduce environmental pollution and traffic congestion. Green architectures and eco-friendly houses become new architectural standards, in harmony with nature. Importantly, science and technology serve as the foundation, driving the transformation of the industrial ecosystem and the sustainable development of the economy…

Reported by Tien Hanh-Translated by Kim Tin