HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on Wednesday signed a key agreement in Hà Nội.

The agreement requires co-operation between the two ministries in coping with climate change, natural resource management and environment protection in industrial production and trade in the 2017-20 period.

Under the agreement, the two ministries target three main purposes of enhancing co-operation in reducing environmental pollution from industrial production and trade activities. They would closely control issues of climate change and natural resource management, especially in the approval of projects investing in electricity, mineral exploitation and processing, petroleum and chemical and fertiliser production, as well as steel, paper mill, garments, textile and leather.

In addition, the co-operation is aimed at maximising functions, resources and available potential of the two ministries in managing and supervising the implementation of legal regulations on natural resources and environment in industrial production and trade.

The two sides agreed to build, revise and supplement to complete legal policies on natural resources and environment relating to the sector, managing reservoirs operation, developing environment service industries and approving reports on environmental affects.

They would also establish funds for environment restoration in mineral exploitation, implement checks on natural resources and environment in industrial production and trade activities and share information and improve people’s awareness on climate change and environmental protection.

The industry and trade sector has made it clear it is not interested in trading the environment for economic benefits.

In 2016-20, the sector has targeted an average growth rate of industrial production of 13 per cent per year, while the value of industrial production is estimated to increase by 7 per cent per year. The portion of industry and construction are projected at 42-43 per cent of the country’s GDP, while the average growth rate of exports would be 11 per cent per year.

The MoIT considers environmental protection one of the key tasks to ensure sustainable development. — VNS