The Forum on “Developing Green Logistics towards a Sustainable Supply Chain in the Import and Export of Agricultural and Pharmaceutical Products – Fostering Collaboration and Sharing Experiences Between Australia and Vietnam”, organised on 17 November 2023 in Ho Chi Minh City, has offered diverse perspectives on transitioning to green logistics and enhancing the economic cooperation between Vietnam and Australia.
Co-hosted by the Vietnam Logistics Research and Development Institute (VLI) and Aus4Skills, the forum fostered discussions and insights exchange among 150 representatives from logistics associations, enterprises, government stakeholders and vocational education and training (VET) colleges of Vietnam and Australia.
   
Representatives from the Vietnam Logistics Business Association (VLA), the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Australian Embassy, Aus4Skills and enterprises at the forum.
As Vietnam and Australia are achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emission by 2050, following the commitment at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Forum (COP26), green logistics activities are essential trends and necessities to implement the governments’ sustainable development plans.
The forum’s discussions revolved around topics such as current situation and solutions for developing green logistics; green logistics in Australia and sharing of experience for Vietnam; and greening the vocational education programs and infrastructure. The speakers also provided opinions on the integration of related sustainability sectors with greening the logistics, including new energy, green technology and engineering new solutions.
Forum panel discussion on green logistics and workforce development.
Furthermore, the forum aims to promote the logistics development within the trade cooperation between Vietnam and Australia.
Recent international free trade agreements, including the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, have opened further opportunities for goods import and export between Vietnam and Australia.
Currently, Australia’s exports to Vietnam contribute to 30-70% of Vietnam’s total import turnover from other countries. Meanwhile, Vietnam’s export turnover to Australia continues to rise.
By analysing the production of pharmaceutical and agricultural products, the two key commodity trades between the two countries, the forum discovered insights of the increasing demands for green consumerism in Vietnam and Australia.
About 50% of Australian and 43% of Vietnamese consumers have interests in green consumerism and are positively impressed by sustainable and “green tag” brands.
Developing green logistics system of these products not only ensures trading safety and efficiency but also boosts their growth and competitiveness.
Forum participants exchange ideas on how to encourage sustainable agriculture development.
The forum also strengthened the linkages between logistics businesses and VET institutions through emphasising the importance of greening the VET programs for logistics skills development.
Updates in education programs to enhance the awareness of green logistics can include knowledge of sustainable development in logistics, developing digital competence framework for students, implementing the digitalisation plan in education management and training, building the green VET infrastructure.
Mr Phan Huy Duc, Vice-rector of Ho Chi Minh City College of Transport discusses greening the VET logistics programs.
The forum is an acticity in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam Logistics Business Association (VLA) and the 50th year of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam.
