Banks support local economic growth with a focus on sustainable development, led by OCB

Banks are partnering to promote local economic development with a focus on sustainable growth, as Vietnam’s green growth agenda increasingly positions the banking system as a “capital leader” supporting key local projects and helping create new growth drivers aligned with sustainable development.

In recent years, the government has emphasized green and sustainable development, with local economies identified as a pillar. Major strategies include building green infrastructure, promoting high-tech agriculture, clean energy, and eco-tourism, involving multiple sectors.

Green credit expands in 2025

In 2025, green economy models at the local level expanded strongly. Initiatives for green agriculture and the circular economy were rolled out widely, gradually forming sustainable value chains across regions.

Credit flows are central to these goals. According to the State Bank of Vietnam, system-wide green credit outstanding reached nearly 780,000 billion VND in 2025, with lending focused on high-tech agriculture, renewable energy, and sustainable infrastructure. Growth in green lending remained in double digits, indicating a capital shift toward priority sectors.

Investment shifts toward eco-tourism and sustainable models

Industry reports from tourism and local authorities indicate that in 2025, more than 350 eco-tourism and mid- to large-scale resort projects were under development or in operation. The trend also extends beyond project scale to sustainable tourism models that minimize environmental impact, align with the circular economy, and support local livelihoods.

Banks move from lending to development partnership

As the economy undergoes deep transformation, banks are increasingly acting not only as lenders but as development partners. They provide advisory services and structure finance for projects, helping improve feasibility, ensure timelines, and increase socio-economic benefits for local development.

OCB highlights financing for green and circular projects

One example is Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank (OCB). In 2025, the bank financed the Phu My Industrial Park project and a high-end urban real estate-resort development in Quy Nhon by Phu Gia Group in Gia Lai.

OCB CEO Pham Hong Hai said: “OCB is actively promoting capital supply and financial services toward a green, circular, environment-friendly economy, managing environmental and social risk, and facilitating procedures to accelerate project approvals so that more projects can be replicated. This shows the bank's strong commitment to green transition and to supporting the government’s Net Zero target by 2050. This is also why OCB is particularly focused on the Phu My IP project, expected to become a green, modern, sustainable industrial ecosystem.”

OCB also collaborates with Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group on clean agriculture, applying high-tech solutions through green financing, long-term capital strategies, and ESG standards. The projects focus on closed-loop production chains—from cultivation and breeding to processing—aiming to create stable local employment and support structural changes in the Tay Nguyen region’s economy.

Clean energy, smart agriculture, and flexible credit packages

OCB has prioritized funding for clean energy and smart agriculture and plans to expand cooperation with major enterprises while offering flexible credit packages to help individuals own homes within the projects.

Pham Hong Hai added: “The aim is to strengthen collaboration with businesses to pursue sustainable development with real-world impact, and to connect financial resources to well-structured, transparent projects that can drive local growth and contribute to national growth. We are committed to green development and to supporting Government and State Bank goals.”

Outlook: expanding green infrastructure and ESG risk management

Looking ahead, OCB said it will continue prioritizing credit into green infrastructure, renewable energy, high-tech agriculture, and circular economy models. The bank also plans to enhance advisory capacity and ESG risk management to meet international standards.

Beyond cooperation with large groups, OCB intends to develop flexible financial solutions and digitize processes to shorten access to capital for enterprises and local residents, particularly in high-potential areas. The bank’s strategy is aimed at supporting Vietnam’s green growth agenda and the country’s 2050 net-zero pledge.