Last week, we had the distinct privilege of hosting Mr. Tran V. Cong, the Agriculture Counsellor from the Mission of Vietnam to the European Union, at the Rexil-Asia office in Weesp. It was an honor to engage in a fruitful discussion centered around the evolving landscape of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) requirements and the consequential impact of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) on Vietnam's agro-food sector.
As global consciousness shifts towards sustainable practices, the agro-food industry stands at a critical juncture. With sustainability becoming an increasingly integral component of business operations both in Europe as in Vietnam, it's essential for stakeholders to collaborate and strategize for a more sustainable future. Our meeting with Mr. Cong provided invaluable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by Vietnam's agricultural community in meeting ESG standards and navigating the implications of CSRD.
One of the key topics of our discussion revolved around the unique challenges encountered by smallholders and SMEs in Vietnam. While these entities play a crucial role in the country's agricultural landscape, they often lack the resources and capacity to adhere to stringent ESG requirements. Recognizing this, our conversation delved into potential solutions and strategies to empower these stakeholders, ensuring their inclusion in sustainable practices.
Collaboration emerged as a central theme during our dialogue with Mr. Cong. We discussed the importance of forging partnerships between government bodies and the industry within Vietnam's agro-food sector. By fostering collaboration, we can collectively work towards addressing sustainability challenges while fostering economic growth and social development.
As we reflect on our discussion with Mr. Cong, it's evident that there's a shared commitment to driving positive change within Vietnam's agro-food sector. By leveraging our expertise, resources, and innovation, we can overcome challenges and seize opportunities to build a more sustainable and resilient future.
#vietnam #ESG #SME #smallholderfarmers #csrd #sustainability
William Nolten Cees van Stee
Airbus Chief Representative for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific
3dThe importance of smallholder farmers in providing agricultural feedstock to support the world's transition to low carbon liquid fuels is an opportunity for them to participate in new revenue streams, but also highlights their continuing importance to our economies and our ecosystems. Providers of finance will need to take account of the significant transformation for smallholder farmers in their business models to allow them to maximise their contribution to our clean energy transition.