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MWp of rooftop solar power for commercial and industrial customers. EDF Renewables
is a leading renewable energy company in the international market, with a total global

installed capacity of 13.8 GW, mainly focusing on developing wind and solar power
(Vien Thong, 2021).
In August 2022, the French oil and gas group Total signed an agreement with the
real estate developer of Vietnam Industrial Park on the supply of solar power. Through
this agreement, TotalEnergies is the exclusive entity to exploit the roof area of all
projects under the Vietnam Industrial Park (IP) to develop solar battery systems and
provide renewable energy sources for customers of the IP in Vietnam. TotalEnergies
will exclusively exploit and operate infrastructure with a lifespan of more than 20 years

at the projects of the IP in Vietnam (Thanh An, 2022).
In general, EU FDI still mainly prioritizes high-tech industries, recently tending to
develop more in the fields of clean energy, supporting industries, food processing, high-
tech agriculture, pharmaceuticals, etc. Investment fields from the EU are also assessed
as having great potential to attract more green FDI in the future.
3. Difficulties and challenges in attracting green FDI

In reality, Vietnam still faces many difficulties, challenges and barriers in
attracting green FDI, specifically:
- Vietnam does not have much experience and mechanisms, environmental
standards to effectively screen FDI projects; has not fully anticipated the potential risks
of environmental pollution of some FDI projects. There are still no complete and clear
criteria for green FDI to be able to compare, apply... attract FDI close to the set goals
and requirements.

- The coordination of all levels and sectors in controlling sources of emissions
from FDI projects is not effective, synchronous and tight. Meanwhile, the awareness of
investors in the process of implementing environmental protection regulations is still
low. There is a lack of binding responsibilities and sanctions to ensure compliance with
investors' commitments.
- There is still a situation of underestimating environmental protection, especially

in the process of appraising, approving and implementing FDI projects. Many localities
roll out the red carpet to attract FDI projects at all costs, with little selectivity, even
accepting FDI enterprises that exploit cheap resources with outdated technology,
causing serious environmental pollution.
- The trend of exporting pollution from developed countries to developing
countries through FDI investment is increasing and Vietnam is at risk of becoming one
of the countries with high pollution import levels. Meanwhile, the capacity of some FDI
enterprises to prevent, control and protect the environment is still inadequate, and the

management capacity of relevant agencies has not yet met the requirements.
4. Conclusion
The prospect of attracting FDI from the EU in the context of the two sides signing
the EVFTA Agreement is very positive, promising to improve the quality of FDI capital
flows into Vietnam. FDI from the EU not only adds more investment

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