EU helps green firms

HA NOI — Sustainable production and consumption was brought home to businesses in Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia last week in a project launched in Ha Noi.

The 2.3 million euros (nearly US$3 million) "Sustainable Product Innovation" project is funded under the European Union to benefit small and medium enterprises operating in food packaging, apparel, footwear, handicrafts and furniture.

Under the project, offices will be opened in Ha Noi, Vientiane and Phnom Penh to provide assistance in research and supplying information for businesses gearing up for environmentally friendly products and marketing.

The EU delegation head in Viet Nam, Ambassador Sean Doyle, said he expected the project would help boost sustainable production and consumption among the businesses and make practical contributions to lawmaking at a point when the Vietnamese Government is drafting its socio-economic strategy to 2020. — VNS