Vietnam is currently promoting the development of a green and sustainable economy, with a strong commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. How would you assess these goals, especially in the context of the accelerating global green transition?
Vietnam’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 is both ambitious and inspiring. It shows strong alignment with the global momentum, where sustainability and economic growth must go hand-in-hand, and signals that Vietnam is ready to compete in the new low-carbon economy.
For SCG, this is not a new response to a new target. We began our net-zero journey long before it became a global headline, grounded in the belief that environmental responsibility is fundamental to long-term business resilience. Under our Inclusive Green Growth vision, sustainability is integrated into every aspect of our operations, such as lower-carbon production processes and innovative products, energy efficiency, renewable energy use, and social inclusion.
The economic logic is clear: a green transition is not about sacrificing growth. By improving energy efficiency, reducing dependence on volatile fossil fuel inputs, and meeting international carbon standards, businesses can lower risks and secure market access. In many export markets, low-carbon products are no longer a premium choice, they are the baseline requirement for participation.
Vietnam’s clear policy direction gives companies like SCG the confidence to keep investing and expanding here. When sustainability is embedded in national strategy and sectoral action, it creates stronger productivity, better export competitiveness, and long-term economic stability. It’s a vision we share and one we are committed to advancing together with Vietnam.
As Vietnam is orienting itself towards attracting green and sustainable FDI, which investment areas does SCG plan to prioritize to align with the country’s national strategy?
With a presence of more than 30 years in Vietnam, SCG has been producing essential materials that meet domestic market needs and support national development. Vietnam’s stable and supportive policies give investors like us the confidence to commit with a long-term perspective - focusing on projects that combine quality, sustainability, and relevance to local communities.
Our guiding principle is to build green manufacturing that strengthens the industrial value chain and grows side-by-side with Vietnam’s economy.
SCG’s priority investment areas span cement and building materials, packaging, and petrochemicals, with a strong focus on sustainability and efficiency. In cement and building materials, we are advancing low-carbon cement and cleaner production models by reducing clinker ratios, increasing the use of alternative fuels, and integrating circular economy solutions such as waste heat recovery.
In packaging, we are developing circular-economy-based solutions ranging from recyclable and recycled packaging to certified fiber sourcing and sustainable designs that help manufacturers meet rising ESG [environmental, social, and governance] standards in both domestic and export markets.
And in petrochemicals, flagship projects such as Long Son Petrochemicals are designed to enhance national self-sufficiency, apply advanced technologies to improve efficiency, and strengthen overall environmental performance.
Through these investments, SCG helps enhance Vietnam’s industrial competitiveness in global value chains. Guided by our ESG 4 Plus framework and fully aligned with Vietnam’s national priorities, our objective is clear - to drive sustainable growth, strengthen resilience, and continue building long-term value for the country and its people.
SCG is expected to begin exporting its low-carbon cement products to the US market from 2026. How will this plan contribute to Vietnam’s green trade strategy, particularly as many countries are tightening their emissions standards?
Using SCG’s proprietary technology, we began producing low-carbon cement in Vietnam in 2024 and will begin exporting it to the US market from 2026. This reflects a global shift where carbon performance is no longer a differentiator, it is a fundamental market entry requirement.
Our low-carbon cement meets stringent international standards such as ASTM and BS EN, enabling access to markets with increasingly tight environmental regulations. This demonstrates that Vietnamese manufacturing can compete not only on cost but also on quality, compliance, and sustainability.
This approach supports Vietnam’s goal of moving up the value chain - transitioning from cost-based competitiveness to higher-value, standards-aligned production. In this way, green manufacturing and green trade reinforce each other, bolstering Vietnam’s role in global supply chains.
From a trade perspective, it positions Vietnam to expand higher-value, greener exports at a time when major markets are tightening emissions standards and applying carbon-related trade measures. Meeting these standards helps reduce long-term trade risks, protect market access, and build resilience.
Ultimately, our plan ensures that green investment creates value not only for SCG but across Vietnam’s broader industrial ecosystem - strengthening the country’s competitiveness in the global low-carbon economy.
SCG’s Long Son Petrochemical Complex in Vietnam officially resumed operations at the end of August. What is the significance of this project in SCG’s long-term development strategy in Vietnam, as well as in relation to the Group’s green and sustainable development goals?
The resumption of operations at Long Son Petrochemicals marks the reaffirmation of its role as a core, long-term pillar in SCG’s growth strategy in Vietnam. For us, Vietnam is not only a production base, it is a strategic market where we intend to grow responsibly and sustainably for decades.
From a business perspective, the Complex supplies essential petrochemical products that underpin Vietnam’s downstream manufacturing sectors - reducing import needs. Just as important, it allows SCG to produce these materials locally and in compliance with high efficiency and environmental standards, supporting both industrial competitiveness and sustainability.
The Complex embodies our belief that scale and social responsibility must go hand-in-hand. We have invested over $100 million to integrate advanced green manufacturing technologies. Looking ahead, our project to upgrade feedstock and utilize ethane will further reduce carbon emissions from 2027.
In partnership with strategic customers and suppliers, we are also developing a closed-loop circular economy model - collecting plastic waste, reprocessing it into recycled pallets with jointly developed formulas, delivering them to end users, and then collecting and reusing them multiple times.
Overall, the restart of the Long Son Petrochemicals Complex reflects SCG’s commitment to being a long-term partner in Vietnam’s economic journey, aligning industrial growth with environmental responsibility and supporting the country’s transition towards a green and sustainable future.
Do you have any recommendations for Vietnam to further improve its investment environment and better support FDI enterprises in promoting green development and digitalization in order to sustain long-term growth momentum?
Vietnam has made impressive progress in building an attractive investment environment, and the next phase should focus on the depth of quality, innovation, and sustainability. Green and digital investments are inherently long term, requiring significant upfront capital. What investors value most is predictability, alongside clear and consistent policies that guide investment decision with confidence.
First, establishing transparent frameworks and roadmaps for carbon reduction, energy transition, and industrial standards such as credible green labels will enable businesses to plan with certainty. Green projects often have longer payback periods, so policy stability and clarity matter even more than short-term incentives.
Second, fostering innovation through mechanisms like faster approval processes, targeted tax incentives for green and digital projects, pilot programs, and R&D support can accelerate decision-making and efficiency. These measures encourage the introduction of advanced technologies and solutions into Vietnam’s economy.
Finally, continued momentum in public-private collaboration within the green and digital ecosystem will help both domestic and FDI enterprises integrate more deeply and establish competitive, sustainable models in the global marketplace.
SCG’s strategy is fully aligned with Vietnam’s national agenda - positioning ourselves as a smart, green, and responsible manufacturing role model, ready to grow with the country in this new chapter of sustainable development.
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