Vietnam plays an essential part in major global athletic goods manufacturers' supply networks

The workshop, which discussed the industry's activities toward a sustainable future, was organized by the World Federation of Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) and the Vietnamese Delegation to Geneva from September 12 to 17 as part of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Public Forum 2023.

Adidas and Nike have picked Vietnam as a primary production hub for their worldwide supply networks. According to Adidas' 2020 forecast, 98% of its production is situated in Asia, with Vietnam accounting for 40%.

According to Diego Antoncic, Senior Manager for Government Affairs at Adidas, as developed countries such as the EU and the US pay more attention to and tighten regulations on environmental, social, and governance (ESG), the company has been coordinating more closely with its suppliers in key regions in all aspects to ensure adherence to the rules.

Puma's head of Corporate Sustainability, Stefan Seidel, spoke about the company's environmental initiatives across the world, especially in Vietnam. He stated that Puma has supported and assisted manufacturers in Vietnam in transitioning to solar and biomass power, reusing cooling water for cloth dyeing and washing, and improving chemical management.

Bertrand Tison, a senior member for European Public Affairs at Decathlon, stated that Vietnam is the company's second largest production base, with 130 partner facilities and seven retail outlets. As a worldwide organization with a strong sense of corporate and environmental responsibility, and in order to fulfill the demands of markets, notably the EU, the company is responsible for collaborating with suppliers, particularly those in Vietnam, to decrease the carbon footprint and combat climate change.

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, leader of the Vietnamese Delegation, emphasized the importance of the sports goods industry, adding that sporting goods have long been a significant component of two of Vietnam's important exports, textile - garment and leather - footwear.

She stated that Vietnam is happy to have become an important manufacturing base for globally recognized brands, and that it is working to contribute to the global transition toward sustainable development by executing the national green growth plan for 2021-2030, with a vision of 2050.

The government intends for its textile-garment and leather-footwear sectors to have evolved effectively and sustainably using the circular economy model by 2035. According to the ambassador, measures will be implemented to elevate local manufacturing to a new level - from "made in Vietnam" to "made by Vietnam," to assure control over supply chains, and to fulfill the market's demanding standards for the sustainability and circularity of export commodities.

Source: Nhân Dân