This afternoon of October 11, the launch of Binh Duong Green Book in 2012 and Reward Decision No. 2562/ QD-UBND dated September 19, 2012 of Provincial People's Committee praising up 47 businesses of excellent implementation of environmental protection requirements in the province.   Workers are working on air waste sample collectionTo learn more about this event, Binh Duong Newspaper reporter had a brief interview with Ms. Vo Thi Ngoc Hanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DONRE). Reporter: Please let us be informed of the purpose and significance of the classification of green businesses? Ms. Vo Thi Ngoc Hanh: The purpose of the classification of green companies is to prevent and remedy environmental pollution, improving environmental quality, contributing to the sustainable development of the locality. This is the main objective of the Environmental Protection Plan in Binh Duong province in 2011-2015.This goal is accomplished through a variety of measures, including the quantification and classification of industrial pollution levels to publicize information on the status of the business environment - an important tool. On that basis, information about businesses implement environmental protection work is published in a so-called Green Book for timely dissemination, replication, and promoting the model companies in the community. Reporter: what are the classification criteria, ma'am? Ms. Vo Thi Ngoc Hanh: Three criteria for the classification of companies and building the Green Book - the scales to evaluate businesses. Criterion Number 1 (30 points) is an important criterion to evaluate compliance with environmental protection laws of the company, if the scale of non-circular other criteria shall not be considered. This criterion requires companies to have approved environment impact reports or certificates of commitment to environmental protection; to have waste treatment works; to have no violation of environment protection during the classification stage nor being appealed by the community where the companies are located. Criterion Number 2 (40 points) is to assess compliance with the regulations and Vietnamese environmental standards based on the results of analysis and measurement of the waste samples which are used as the basis for enterprises to assess the quality of waste water, noise, vibration, emissions into the environment. Criterion Number 3 (30 points) is the assessment of compliance with environmental records management and related environmental protection issues such as: business registration of hazardous waste sources, hazardous waste management, declaration and payment of environmental protection fees, at least bi-annual environment quality monitoring reports, licenses of groundwater exploitation or surface water use... Based on these criteria, the businesses earning 80 to 100 points (in which criteria 1 and 2 must be fully 30) are to be classified and included in the Green Book under Decision No. 03/2011/QD-UBND dated January 27, 2011 of the Provincial People's Committee. The implementation process is open, transparent and closely through a series of steps, with the participation of sectors and districts. As a result, in 2012, 47 enterprises have been recognized and honored. Reporter: Can you tell us more about the benefits of the companies named in the Green Book. Ms. Vo Thi Ngoc Hanh: We look forward to see the active companies in the province expressing their responsibilities for environmental protection through specific and regular activities, contributing to improvement of environmental quality in the province. Being included in the Green Book will help businesses be better integrated with the global market.It is because of the fact that possibility of penetration into foreign markets and business cooperation with foreign partners is enabled when enterprises overcome many technical barriers, including the most significant environmental protection requirements. This is the first step for enterprises to export goods, as well as to confirm the brand-names and their products to the customers and consumers. 47 companies were named in Binh Duong Green Book - Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd.;- Yazaki Eds Co., Ltd.;- Kirin Beverage Vietnam Co., Ltd.;- Roussel Vietnam Pharmaceutical Factory - Roussel Vietnam Company;- Dien Quang Light Bulb Joint Stock Company;- Bayer Vietnam Co., Ltd.;- Minh Long I Co., Ltd.;- Pqrkerizing Vietnam Co., Ltd.;- Bibica Mien Dong Company Limited;- DuPont Vietnam Co., Ltd.;- MHE Demag Vietnam Co., Ltd.;- Uchiyama Vietnam Co., Ltd,;- Esquel Garment Manufacturing (Vietnam) Co., Ltd.;- Yakult Vietnam Co. Ltd.;- Korea United Pharm INT'L JSC Ltd.;- FrieslandCampina Vietnam Co., Ltd.;- Kian Joo Canpack Vietnam Co., Ltd.;- Glomed Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company- Becamex Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company;- Hayabusa (Vietnam) Limited;- Branch of Petrolimex Paint Co., Ltd. - Petrolimex Paint Factory;- Imexpharm Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company- Sabmiller Vietnam Co., Ltd.; - Tatako Vietnam Co., Ltd.;- Nitto Denko Vietnam Co., Ltd.;- Stada Vietnam Joint Venture Co., Ltd.;- Hoya Lens Vietnam Company Limited;- SCJohnson & Son Vietnam Co., Ltd.;- Procter & Gamble Vietnam Co., Ltd.;- Colgate-Pamolive Vietnam Co., Ltd. - My Phuoc Branch;- Ever Tech Plastic Vietnam Co., Ltd.;- Showa Gloves Vietnam Co., Ltd.;- Estec Vietnam Co., Ltd.;- Saha Dharawat Packaging Co., Ltd.;- Tran Quang Coffee and Tea Production and Trading Co., Ltd.;- Kimberly-Clark Vietnam Co., Ltd.;- ECS - Electronics Vietnam Co., Ltd.;- Hai My Co., Ltd.;- Kaneka Pharma Vietnam Co., Ltd.;- Onamba Vietnam Co., Ltd.;- Vidipha Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company;- Ecolakes urban areas in My Phuoc - SetiaBecamex Joint Stock Company;- White Feathers International Co., Ltd.;- Joon Saigon Co., Ltd.;- O'leer Vietnam Co., Ltd.;- Omron Healthcare Manufacturing Vietnam Co., Ltd.;- Happy International Children and Mother HospitalInterviewed by Kim Ha – Translated by Vi Bao