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BIZ GUEST

% What count among Gamuda Land’s The “green” pillar is a metaphor for man-
achievements during its nearly 20 years aging green areas, maintaining flora,
in Vietnam? focusing on biodiversity, applying
2007 was a turning point for Gamuda advanced methods in selecting tree species
Land, when it officially set foot in Vietnam. for planting, supporting community farm-
Looking back at the nearly two decades ing, and ensuring plant care.
since, it has well and truly established its One of our typical initiatives is to plant
name in the market, gaining recognition trees at a nursery near the project to
as one of the top 5 foreign real estate enable us to supply them at any time.
developers and one of the pioneering Both Gamuda City and Celdadon City
businesses in environmental, social, gov- have their own nurseries and thousands
ernance (ESG) activities. of different tree species.
Two of its outstanding projects in Viet- The “blue” pillar, meanwhile, is reflected
nam are Gamuda City in Hanoi and in water landscapes such as lakes and canals
Celadon City in Ho Chi Minh City. These as well as water filtration management sys-
are civilized, modern, and green urban tems. The number of lakes in Gamuda
areas revived from polluted and under- Land’s urban areas is always almost double
developed areas. Though the real estate that of other urban areas. These lakes both
market is experiencing many difficulties, “AS A RESPONSIBLE act as water retention bodies and disperse
Gamuda Land opened two model houses water throughout the park.
DEVELOPER,
in 2023 for its Artisan Park shopping The “materials” pillar is demonstrated
mall project in Binh Duong city in south- WE ARE COMMITTED through the strict management of natural
ern Binh Duong province and the high- TO OPERATING OUR resources, including land fund planning
end Elysian apartment project in Thu and biodegradation.
BUSINESS IN
Duc city, Ho Chi Minh City. It increased
its number of projects in Vietnam to five A SUSTAINABLE % Vietnam is increasingly promoting
in 2022, after launching the high-end green economic development, sustain-
MANNER.”
Eaton Park apartment project in District able development, and the shifting of
2, Ho Chi Minh City. Mr. Angus Liew green capital flows. How do you view
Chairman of of Gamuda Land Vietnam
the Vietnamese Government’s support
% The success of its green projects in and policies for foreign real estate
Vietnam has helped Gamuda Land posi- developers building green projects
tion its brand in the country’s real estate towards sustainable development?
market. Why did it choose Vietnam as The Vietnamese Government has made
its base for developing green projects concepts. Only in the past five years, great efforts in recent years to achieve its
towards sustainable development? with greater recognition of the problems commitment to reach net-zero emissions
Gamuda Land has long considered associated with climate change, did by 2050, with a series of support policies
Vietnam its second home, after its actual green real estate become a method for businesses developing green projects.
homeland in Malaysia. Vietnam is a con- investors choose to survive and grow. It Many financial policies have been issued,
tinually growing economy with a stable was also a sensible path for businesses such as a tax regime aimed at environ-
political environment, making it a very hoping to go further in the context of mental protection and special consump-
attractive market for foreign real estate many economies beginning to pursue a tion taxes.
investors, including those from Malaysia, green transition.
Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong With more than 20 years of experience % What goals does Gamuda Land have
(China), when seeking an investment des- in developing green urban areas, Gamuda to adapt to this orientation in Vietnam?
tination. It is also located in Southeast Land has concluded that there are three As a responsible developer, we are
Asia, with many cultural similarities and factors for green urban areas to come committed to operating our business in a
closeness to Malaysia. into operation and succeed: adopting a sustainable manner by responding to cli-
When we selected Vietnam as our master plan; preserving and respecting mate change and setting carbon dioxide
investment destination, the concept of nature; and meeting the needs of resi- emission limits.
green real estate was little known in the dents and creating practical value for Under the Gamuda Green Plan, we
country. With its experience, strength, the community. commit that Gamuda Bhd and its sub-
and vision, Gamuda Land decided to pur- sidiaries, such as Gamuda Land, will
sue developing green urban areas to create % What do you see as the greatest dif- implement a circular construction process,
a different, pioneering direction in Viet- ferences when developing a project including specific methods to reduce
nam. And the success of the two urban under the “green” model compared to direct and indirect greenhouse gas emis-
areas - Gamuda City and Celadon City - the traditional model? sions by 30 per cent by 2025 and 45 per
has proven this was an appropriate strat- The difference for Gamuda Land is cent by 2030.
egy for Gamuda Land to follow, turning that instead of trying to change the topog- This is a comprehensive roadmap, rep-
these into a driving force for the devel- raphy of the land for the purpose of building resenting tangible goals influenced by envi-
opment of the surrounding areas. infrastructure, we choose to develop urban ronmental factors, with four pillars: sus-
areas based on the existing ecosystem, to tainable planning, design and circular con-
% What are the key factors in successfully maximize biodiversity and take advantage struction processes; community and business
developing a green project in Vietnam? of the strengths of Mother Nature. factors; environmental protection and bio-
In the 2000s, “green projects” and Our projects adhere to the “three- diversity; and enhanced sustainability and
“green real estate” were still only vague pillar theory”: green, blue, and materials. digitalization. %

en.vneconomy.vn April 15, 2024 Vietnam Economic Times 31