Memorandum of Understanding Signing Ceremony between the UEH Sustainable Finance Institute and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

14 May, 2026

On the morning of April 22, 2026, at University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony took place between the UEH Sustainable Finance Institute (SFI) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The event marked an important milestone in establishing a strategic cooperation framework between the two parties, aiming to promote sustainable development practices, enhance Environmental - Social - Governance (ESG) reporting capabilities, and support the business community, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam.

Representing UEH at the ceremony were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Thi Mai Hoai - Director of the Sustainable Finance Institute (SFI), along with members of the Institute.

Representing the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) was Mr. Nguyen Cong Minh Bao - GRI Country Director in Vietnam, together with members of the delegation.

Signing Ceremony between the UEH Sustainable Finance Institute and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

Promoting strategic cooperation on sustainable development and ESG

Speaking at the ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Thi Mai Hoai - Director of the UEH Sustainable Finance Institute - shared that the event was not only an important milestone in the partnership between the two organizations, but also a convergence of shared missions in disseminating knowledge and promoting sustainable governance practices, sustainable finance, and the circular economy in Vietnam and the region.

“GRI is a pioneering organization in establishing global sustainability reporting standards, with more than 90% of enterprises worldwide using GRI standards. In the context of increasingly pressing environmental and social challenges, we expect this collaboration to bring practical value, supporting Vietnamese enterprises, especially SMEs, in enhancing ESG practices and developing sustainability reports,” emphasized Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Thi Mai Hoai.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Thi Mai Hoai - Director of the UEH Sustainable Finance Institute shared her remarks at the signing ceremony

Representing the Global Reporting Initiative, Mr. Nguyen Cong Minh Bao - GRI Country Director in Vietnam - stated that this collaboration marks an important milestone in GRI’s development and expansion in Vietnam. He emphasized that in recent years, GRI has actively supported Vietnamese enterprises in accessing and applying sustainability reporting standards. Through cooperation with UEH, both parties aim to further enhance awareness and capabilities within the business community, particularly SMEs, thereby improving competitiveness and promoting international integration.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Minh Bao stated that the UEH-GRI partnership marks an important milestone in expanding operations and promoting sustainable development in Vietnam

Representatives of both parties conducted the MOU signing ceremony

According to the Memorandum of Understanding, the UEH Sustainable Finance Institute and GRI agreed to cooperate in several key areas, including:
- Developing and implementing training programs and workshops on sustainable development and ESG for businesses, especially SMEs;
- Enhancing enterprise capacity in integrating sustainability into strategic governance and business operations;
- Promoting capacity-building programs, raising awareness, and improving access to sustainability reporting tools aligned with international standards;
- Strengthening partner networks and mobilizing resources to expand sustainable development initiatives in Vietnam.

This cooperation aligns with Vietnam’s national development orientation on emissions reduction, circular economy, and green technology, while also contributing to workforce capacity building in the context of digital and green transformation.

Enhancing practical training for businesses

Immediately after the signing ceremony, SFI and GRI jointly organized a free ESG training program for enterprises, directly conducted by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Thi Mai Hoai, GRI leaders, and several other trainers.

The training program focused on equipping businesses with practical knowledge and tools for sustainable development, including: an overview of the sustainable development landscape and ESG requirements within value chains; methods for collecting, measuring, and reporting ESG data; building sustainable business models; developing strategic roadmaps for sustainable transformation tailored to each enterprise; and attracting sustainable financing to overcome financial barriers.

The UEH Sustainable Finance Institute and the Global Reporting Initiative jointly organized a free ESG training program for enterprises

In addition, the program provided practical exercises, real-world case studies, and guidance on leveraging sustainability reporting as a strategic tool to enhance reputation, access green finance, and strengthen competitive advantages in the market. Participating enterprises highly appreciated the added value delivered by the training program.

Enterprises participated in discussions and collaborative learning sessions with the UEH Sustainable Finance Institute and the Global Reporting Initiative

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is an independent international organization pioneering the development of sustainability reporting standards, helping businesses and organizations enhance transparency regarding their environmental, social, and governance impacts.

The UEH Sustainable Finance Institute is a pioneering institution in Vietnam specializing in training, research, and consulting in sustainable finance, ESG governance, and the circular economy, serving as a bridge between academia and business practice in the sustainable transformation journey.

The cooperation agreement between the UEH Sustainable Finance Institute and GRI opens up strategic collaboration opportunities while contributing to the advancement of Vietnam’s sustainable development ecosystem. This Memorandum of Understanding serves as an important stepping stone at the institutional level. Subsequently, on May 13, 2026, the official agreement was digitally signed between Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Hung - President of University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), and Mr. Bastian Buck - Chief Standards Officer of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).

With the support of reputable international partners, future training, research, and business support initiatives are expected to continue spreading knowledge and driving green transformation toward a more sustainable economy in the future.

Other highlights from the event: