On the afternoon of July 29, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) officially launched the Vietnamese translation of the GRI Standards.
Scene of the launch event.
The event aims to eliminate language barriers, assist enterprises in standardizing ESG (environmental, social, and governance) reporting, enhance climate risk governance capacity, and unlock global green capital flows.
Starting July 29, the latest versions of the GRI Standards officially have Vietnamese translations, enabling organizations and enterprises to report transparently on impacts in alignment with global practices. The fully translated set of documents includes the Universal GRI Standards, Sector Standards, and Topic Standards.
According to the organizers, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam account for approximately 98%, contribute nearly 50% to GDP, generate 50% of employment opportunities, and account for 17% of export turnover.
Despite playing the role of the economy’s backbone, English language barriers are a major factor quietly holding SMEs back from disclosing ESG data. Providing the world’s most widely applied sustainability reporting standards free of charge in the native language will help businesses resolve this difficulty, making it easier to quantify and publicly report their impacts on the economy, the environment, and people.
Opening the event, Mr. Werner Bardill, Consul General of Switzerland in Ho Chi Minh City, emphasized that sustainable economic development requires strong institutions, responsibly operating enterprises, and a favorable environment to compete. Global value chains today are increasingly shaped by expectations of transparency. International customers and investors care not only about products, but also focus on production methods and impacts on the community.
According to Mr. Werner Bardill, Switzerland has partnered to promote responsible global business practices since 2012. Notably, the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the member states of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) establishes a framework to strengthen economic relations. Within this, transparent reporting helps businesses connect effectively with international networks.
Ms. Esther An, Member of the GRI Supervisory Board and Chief Sustainability Officer at City Developments Limited, stated that sustainability reporting builds trust and helps organizations make better decisions. Providing credible impact information helps enterprises strengthen resilience, attract investment, and enhance competitiveness in a globalized economy.
Regarding the implementation process, Mr. Nguyen Cong Minh Bao, GRI Country Manager in Vietnam, stated that the program is coordinating with the State Securities Commission and the stock exchanges to review the legal framework. The goal is to prepare for the release of guidance documents on ESG information disclosure under Circular 96 for listed companies in the third quarter of 2026.
Along with that, the Twin Transition Accelerator Program toward Sustainable Development (STAR Accelerator) is also being implemented with support from the Agency for Private and Collective Economic Development (APED) under the Ministry of Finance, providing practical tools to help SMEs practice reporting and regulatory compliance.
At the event, Golden Gate BCE signed a strategic cooperation agreement with LPF FUND Co., Ltd. Commenting on this step forward, Mr. Huynh Quoc Khanh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of LPF FUND Co., Ltd., remarked that every development stage requires a common language to connect with the world. That language has now expanded from product quality to transparency and accountability.
Accordingly, the GRI Standards provide the foundation for Vietnamese enterprises to share an “ESG language” with the global investment community, poised to participate deeply in world value chains and access long-term capital flows.
BH (compiled)
Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/ra-mat-ban-dich-tieng-viet-cua-bo-tieu-chuan-gri-549183.html
