Vietnam is stepping up discussions around sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as policymakers, aviation regulators and industry leaders gathered in Hanoi to explore how cleaner aviation fuels could support the country’s long-term energy transition and aviation decarbonisation goals.
The International Conference on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): Policy Frameworks and Market Development in Asia brought together representatives from government, airlines, fuel suppliers, technology providers and international organisations to examine policy approaches, market development and implementation pathways for SAF across the region, Digital More reported.
The event was jointly organised by the Global Centre for Green Fuels (GCGF) and the Vietnam Academy of Construction Strategy and Cadres Training (ACST) under the Ministry of Construction, with support from the Asia Pacific Sustainable Aviation Centre (APSAC).
Opening the conference, Vietnam’s Vice Minister of Construction, Le Anh Tuan, highlighted the increasing importance of sustainable aviation fuel in reducing emissions from the aviation sector and reiterated Vietnam’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
He said SAF development should follow a roadmap aligned with Vietnam’s national conditions while balancing environmental goals, energy security and competitiveness.
The conference took place as countries across the Asia-Pacific region accelerate efforts to decarbonise aviation while maintaining growth in air transport.
Participants discussed a broad range of issues including SAF policy frameworks, market creation, certification standards, technology pathways and supply-chain development.
Delivering the keynote address, Subash S., Deputy Regional Director of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Asia and Pacific Office, emphasised the role of SAF in supporting ICAO’s long-term goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions from international aviation by 2050.
He highlighted the importance of developing national SAF roadmaps and creating coordinated policy structures supported by collaboration among governments, industry participants and financial institutions.
Conference discussions also provided Vietnamese stakeholders with regional insights and implementation experiences covering certification processes, market design, supply chains and technology deployment.
These exchanges are expected to contribute to Vietnam’s ongoing evaluation of opportunities for SAF development and future planning initiatives.
Beyond emissions reduction, participants discussed broader economic opportunities linked to SAF, including Vietnam’s potential role within emerging regional value chains.
Areas identified included feedstock supply, fuel production, infrastructure development, investment opportunities and the policy conditions required to support long-term market growth.
Clarence Woo, Managing Director of the Global Centre for Green Fuels, said the shift toward sustainable aviation requires coordinated action across aviation, energy, agriculture, industry and finance.
He noted that bringing together policymakers, industry leaders and technical experts creates an important platform for knowledge sharing as Vietnam explores possible SAF pathways.
Philip Goh, Chief Executive Officer of the Asia Pacific Sustainable Aviation Centre, also emphasised the value of regional cooperation and capacity building to support SAF expansion across Asia-Pacific.
According to him, countries in the region possess different feedstock resources, market structures and policy environments, making regional collaboration important for developing effective SAF strategies.
The conference included participation from ICAO, civil aviation authorities across Southeast Asia and industry representatives from Vietnam Airlines, Airbus, Boeing, SAFCo, Taiyo Oil and LanzaTech.
Discussions throughout the event highlighted both the opportunities and challenges of expanding sustainable aviation fuel and reinforced the need for coordinated efforts between governments and industry to support future SAF development in Vietnam.
