On August 22nd, the Green Innovation Summit (GI Summit) 2025 officially kicked off as part of the International Forum and Exhibition on Innovation – InnoEx 2025. The event was organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Young Businesspeople Association (YBA), the Business Startup Support Center (BSSC), and IBP Investment Promotion and Enterprise Support JSC, in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Green Business Association.
With the theme “Redefining Brands for the Net Zero Generation”, GI Summit 2025 brought together CEOs of domestic and international corporations, leading ESG experts, business association representatives, and numerous green investment funds and financial organizations. It was one of the key forums of InnoEx 2025, offering strategic insights and actionable solutions to propel Vietnamese businesses into the era of sustainable development.
The Net Zero Generation – A New Consumer Profile
Speakers agreed that the Net Zero Generation is not just a group of young customers but a consumer force that is reshaping the entire market. The most significant difference from previous generations lies in their brand choices: it’s not just about price or quality, but also transparent supply chains, carbon emissions, and social responsibility.
According to NYU Stern’s research (2024), sustainably labeled products accounted for 41% of the growth in the packaged consumer goods industry. PwC (2024) found that global consumers are willing to pay almost 10% more for products with ESG transparency. Notably, Deloitte reported that 62% of customers are ready to pay up to 20% more for environmentally friendly products, but 57% don’t trust opaque green claims. This is a clear warning that businesses slow to change will lose market share in their home turf.
Ms. Bui Thi Ngoc Kieu, Legal and External Affairs Director of AB InBev Southeast Asia, asserted in her opening keynote: “We were founded over 600 years ago, and we intend to continue for another 600 years. The only way we can do that is through sustainable innovation.”
From an agricultural and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) perspective, Mr. Thai Van Chuyen, General Director of TTC AgriS, emphasized: “Brands are not just associated with product quality but also with carbon footprint, resource efficiency, and circularity. Businesses that green their value chains early will have the advantage, and latecomers will surely be left behind.”
Mr. Thai Van Chuyen, General Director of TTC AgriS, asserted that businesses that green their value chains early will have the advantage.
Green Economy – From Choice to Survival
The main discussion session of the GI Summit was moderated by Ms. Huynh Thi Xuan Lien, Chairwoman of the CAO Fashion Company (CAF), with the participation of Dr. Nguyen Thanh My (Rynan Technologies Vietnam), Mr. Phan Minh Thong (Phuc Sinh Group), and Ms. Nguyen Thanh Giang (Tetra Pak Vietnam). The experts emphasized that integrating ESG into corporate strategies, greening supply chains, adopting emission-reducing technologies, and fostering multi-stakeholder collaborations are the four critical directions for businesses.
The speakers shared the view that going “green” is not just an ethical choice but has become a survival imperative for businesses to remain competitive in the Net Zero era. This is not a passing trend but a new global standard where investors, consumers, and governments alike promote sustainable values.
Green Innovation Accelerator – A Launchpad for Green Startups and SMEs
One of the event’s highlights was the Green Innovation Accelerator 2025 pitching session, where the Top 6 outstanding projects presented their solutions in waste management, circular economy, sustainable agriculture, cleaning technologies, and ESG. This platform not only recognized innovative projects but also connected them with potential investors, collaboration opportunities with large corporations, and commercialization pathways within the region.
The Top 6 projects included BOTOL (Vietnam) with its smart recycling machine that rewards users for trash collection; BIOPHENOLICS (Japan) providing bio-based compounds from agricultural by-products to replace chemicals; FORTE BIOTECH (Singapore) with its diagnostic kit for shrimp diseases to reduce water pollution; N&E (Singapore) developing natural antibacterial agents for food packaging and hygiene; MAXDREAM (Vietnam) with its energy-efficient water filtration technology; and WEAVAIR (Canada) offering a remote ESG auditing platform powered by AI.
These six projects were selected from over 100 submissions across 10 countries, showcasing the potential for strong international collaboration and the emergence of a new generation of green enterprises in Vietnam.
In the broader context, Vietnam is playing an increasingly important role in the global Net Zero alliance. Beyond being an emerging market, Vietnam is a production hub, an innovation powerhouse, and a testing ground for clean energy solutions in the region. This presents a unique opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to enhance their competitiveness while contributing to the world’s journey towards a zero-emission future.
The Million-Dollar Fruit: Vietnam’s Star Export Makes it to the World’s Top 10.
The humble banana, a tropical fruit native to Southeast Asia, has become an unexpected superstar in the global agricultural scene, with Vietnam’s bananas stealing the spotlight in international markets, particularly in China and Japan.
“Vietnamese Products Hit a 10-Year High: Seizing the Golden Opportunity to Soar on the Global Stage”
The Vietnamese crab and shrimp industry has witnessed a remarkable surge in exports, propelling the sector to record-breaking heights. This exceptional performance has positioned the industry at its pinnacle over the last decade.
Over 1,200 Business “Warriors” Unite at the T&T City Millennia Kick-off Event
On August 14th, the T&T City Millennia project’s kick-off event in Ho Chi Minh City attracted over 1,200 real estate agents and strategic partners, showcasing the allure of this premium riverside urban development in southern Saigon. This event marks the beginning of T&T Group’s journey into the southern real estate market, building upon their successful large-scale projects across Vietnam.
Where Should Businesses Start When it Comes to ESG Practices?
In the new growth model for Vietnam and the world, it is imperative for businesses to embrace ESG practices, driven by intrinsic needs. Integrating AI brings a new mindset, demanding data-driven decisions, transparency, and consistency. This is the opportunity to seize the advantage of being a pioneer, enabling businesses to not only sustain their market presence during challenging times but also to thrive and reach new heights.
Young Entrepreneurs Host Event to Support Fledgling Vietnamese Startups in the UK
The GVB Festival 2025, a landmark event for the Vietnamese startup community in the UK, was a resounding success. With a focus on innovation and global connectivity, the festival, organized by Hamy Academy and HUB Network UK, provided a dynamic and specialized platform for young Vietnamese entrepreneurs to connect and thrive.
