TRAINING SESSION 3 – GREEN EXPORT PROGRAM IN HANOI
Topic: Overview of Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) in Agriculture
As part of the Green Export Program – GEVA Project, the third training session took place with the active participation of businesses in the agricultural sector. The program aimed to provide foundational knowledge and practical skills to help enterprises effectively approach and comply with Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS), thereby enhancing their competitiveness and expanding their export markets.
The speaker of the training session was Mr. Bùi Khánh Tùng, Deputy Technical Director of CODAS, a seasoned expert in sustainability certification and consulting. His presentation focused on clarifying the concepts, roles, and classifications of Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS), while also providing guidance on how to select appropriate standards based on specific sectors and target markets.
A key highlight of the session was the strategic planning group exercise by product category. Businesses were divided into three main groups to discuss and develop roadmaps for approaching international standards:
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Coffee Group: Developed a compliance plan for the Rainforest Alliance Standard
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Nuts Group (cashew, cocoa, etc.): Approached the USDA Organic Standard
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Spices Group (cinnamon, star anise, pepper, etc.): Analyzed and applied the EU Organic Farming Standard
The groups worked collaboratively to assess their strengths and weaknesses and began outlining actionable plans aimed at meeting international market requirements. The expert provided hands-on support throughout the exercise, offering detailed guidance on supply chain analysis, prioritization of criteria, and forming practical compliance strategies tailored to each business.
The training session took place in a dynamic and open atmosphere, with discussions focused on real-world challenges faced by the businesses. This reflects the growing demand and strong interest among export-oriented enterprises in meeting the rising global expectations for “green – clean – transparent” products.
The GEVA Project – Green Export Incubation and Acceleration Program through Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) – is an initiative funded by the Government of Switzerland, managed by the International Trade Centre (ITC), and operated by KisStartup JSC during the period from April 2025 to April 2026. The project aims to support Vietnamese businesses in strengthening their green export capabilities through training, consulting, incubation – acceleration, and international market access.
Register to join the GEVA Project and its training programs at: LINK