Vietnam Receiving Many “Dirty” Industries: Expert

Vietnam is developing many industries that have been considered “dirty” industries for a long time by developed countries as they discharge too much toxic substance into the environment, an expert said.

 

“Vietnam is receiving too many industries polluting the environment, typically cement and steel industries,” said Phan Dang Tuat, head of Industry Strategy and Policy Research Institute under the Ministry of Industry and Trade. 

Steel is an industry with very low added value. Developing this industry, Vietnam does not receive much from technology transfer process and does not create many jobs for its residents as a large steel mill needs just some 1,000 workers, Tuat said.

 

He said “in addition to gobbling up a number of valuable natural resources such as land, water and energy, the industry is polluting the environment terribly.”

 

Tuat added developing cement industry is seriously threatening natural water sources.

 

“Vietnam is now a place that contains waste of the world,” he said.

 

Vietnam is currently at a start of the environmental industry, Tuat said, adding that friendly-environmentally new industries have not been attached special importance to in the country. 

 

The institute forecast that until 2020 Vietnam will need US$7.6 billion to protect the environment in 18 industries which have biggest impact on the environment like seafood, paper, construction, engineering, mining and cement. Protecting large lakes in Hanoi alone will require hundreds of millions of USD. (vnexpress.net)