September 20-22, 2017 – Training conference on “Sustainable Public Procurement and Ecolabelling” was organized by Vietnam Environmental Administration (VEA) under Vietnam Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in collaboration with Asian Institute of Technology in Vietnam (AIT-VN). Participants of the conference were staff in charge of public procurement of public departments and agencies, state companies/enterprises and goods providers.
The conference was held in the framework of the project “Promoting Green Products Consumption and Production through Sustainable Public Procurement and Ecolabelling” (SPPEL) funded by the European Union via UN Environment. The objective of the project is to stimulate demand and supply of sustainable products by the combination of ecolabelling and sustainable public procurement (SPP).
At the first section of the conference, Dr. Hoang Van Thuc – Deputy General Director of VEA and Dr. Fredric W. Swierczek – Director of AIT-VN gave opening speeches. Dr. Hoang Van Thuc emphasized the importance of SPP and ecolabelling in the path to promote sustainable consumption and production in Vietnam. This is also a key goal of 17 Sustainable Development Goals announced by the United Nations that Vietnam has committed to. Dr. Thuc expressed his belief that the conference would contribute to the effort and cooperation to promote SPP in Vietnam as well as enhance the effectiveness of Vietnam Eco-Labeling program.
Within three days, the conference will deliver three key contents: (1) Knowledge in Sustainable development and Public Procurement, Sustainable public procuremetn (SPP) and Ecolabelling, role of Ecolabelling in promoting sustainable products consumption and production in Vietnam; (2) Approach to SPP and implementing SPP, the link between SPP and Ecolabelling for integrating criteria of sustainability and ecolabelling into public procurement procedure and streamlining it; (3) Cases study, best practices and lessons learnt of SPP and Ecolabelling worldwide and from Vietnam.
Operating the conference were Master Nguyen Thi Bich Hoa – Deputy Director of AIT-VN, Mr. Nguyen Duc Trung – SPP Tool Development Expert. In addition, the conference had two guest speakers who were Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha – Deputy Director General Department of Legal Affairs and Policies and Mrs. Trinh Huong from Vietnam Green Label Office.
Participating in the conference were staff in charge of public procurement of related Ministries, public agents, state companies/ enterprises and trainers on bidding and procurement.
Vietnam is on its pathway to develop a policy frame to support a transition to sustainable public procurement, hence the conference provided a state-of-the-art approach, contributing to capacity building on integration of criteria of sustainability into public procurement/bidding procedures as well as capacity of goods providers to get certification of Vietnam Green Label.
The conference will be duplicated in Ho Chi Minh City from 18th to 20th October 2017.
