Date:  Thursday, 12 December 2019
Location: International Convention Centre, 11 Le Hong Phong, Hanoi
Event: Building Material Forum 2019 (BMF 2019)- Honor Ceremony of Enterprises with Best Practices in Production and Utilization of Non-fired Brick Building Materials

Your Excellency, Mr. Bui Pham Khanh, Vice Minister of Construction;

Your Excellency, Mr. Le Xuan Dinh, Vice Minister of Science and Technology;

Mr Tong Van Nga, Chairman of the Viet Nam Association of Building Materials;

Distinguished representatives from government agencies, local government, institutions, academia, industry associations and enterprises;

Ladies and gentlemen;

It is my great pleasure to be here today to honour businesses with innovative practices in the promotion of non-fired building materials, which is an important type of environmentally friendly and green building product.  

In the context of climate change, rapid development and urbanization, sustainable development of the construction sector through the use of sustainable building materials is one of the indispensable solutions for low carbon, sustainable development in Viet Nam.

Viet Nam made a strong commitment to the Paris Agreement, and therefore must reduce greenhouse gas emissions 8% by 2030 compared with business as usual (BAU), and up to 25% with international support, and this is specified in its Nationally Determined Contribution of Viet Nam. The country has also committed to Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and is determined to enhance green growth and energy efficiency through the Green Growth Strategy and the Law on Energy Efficiency and Conservation.

The development and utilization of the Non-Fired building materials is an essential step towards achieving the targets set for these policies, and to achieving sustainable development in Viet Nam. Non-fired brick technology not only reduces C0₂ emissions, but also saves agricultural land, and reuses millions of tonnes of industrial waste that would otherwise have been sent to landfills.

I would like to commend the Government of Viet Nam and all stakeholders in the brick making sector for their determination, and the effort they put forth to shift the industry from coal fired polluted kilns to environmentally friendly non-fired technology. The domestic market share of non-fired bricks reached 28 per cent in 2018 which was an increase of 15 per cent compared with 2011, and this is significant.

I had the chance to visit one of the firms with UNDP’s Deputy Regional Director for Asia and Pacific and the results and professionalism were truly impressive.  The company now exports their technology to other countries.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Such an important transformation would not have been possible without the driving role of businesses that both produce and use non-fired bricks. Today we recognize the success of advanced non-fired brick technology and the production companies that have pioneered in the adoption of environmentally friendly sustainable technology. We are also here to honour the construction companies who have opted to use environmentally friendly building products.

At the event today, I would like to encourage you to share and exchange innovative practices that are already in place, such as:

-          the application of solar energy for curing non-fired bricks;

-          increasing the proportion of fly ash to 70% of the input material mix; and

-          employing new construction techniques that use non-fired bricks, etc

UNDP is confident that these best practices will be scalable and promote better quality non-fired brick products, and more sustainable and efficient for construction works, which is important for developing this new market. Each of you has a key role to play in continuing to champion these green building products.

UNDP greatly appreciate the efforts of companies that not only contribute to the economic growth of the country but have also made a substantial difference in reducing Viet Nam’s greenhouse gas emissions.

UNDP would also like to congratulate the Viet Nam Association of Building Materials for its successful honour program, which is leading to today’s celebration for the continued development of non-fired brick technology in Viet Nam.

On behalf of UNDP, I would also like to take this opportunity to appreciate our partnership with the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Construction, and other partners in promoting green building materials for sustainable and low-carbon development of the construction sector.

In conclusion, thank-you all for demonstrating that producing and using non-fired bricks is not only possible, but profitable and brings us one critical step further towards achieving the sustainable development goals and national climate change targets.

Thank you! I wish you a great celebration today!

Chuc Suc Khoe and Xin Cam On!