In Vietnam, continued economic and population growth, especially in cities, is resulting in severe pressure on environmental quality. Further economic growth will come with increasing demand for energy and water use. Much of Vietnam’s growth is expected to be fuelled by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that currently account for 95% of the country’s enterprises. Yet, many SMEs in Vietnam work with outdated and inefficient technology. With water and energy prices increasing, their inefficiency not only takes a toll on the environment and public health, but also implies higher costs for their own business. Vietnam has already seen many projects and programmes to introduce innovative, energy and water efficient technologies in Vietnam. As a result, the sector is well documented with market-, and technology-reports, and environmental impact studies, and there are a number of trained project-oriented installation companies. However, the diffusion of technologies for sustainable production has so far mostly remained in the (pilot) project market. Cleaner, more efficient technologies have not yet achieved significant penetration in mainstream markets.

MEET-BIS project stimulates energy efficiency and water conservation in Vietnam using an innovative, private sector based approach. The ‘MEET-BIS’ programme aims to change this situation. The project is providing urban SMEs in Vietnam with sustainable and affordable access to water and energy efficiency technologies – improving the companies efficiency and bottom line as well as benefitting the environment and public health. MEET-BIS does this by building capacity among suppliers and installers in the Vietnamese market. Building on tested, pragmatic approaches, the project partners are developing sustainable supply chains that make innovative technologies and technical know-how available for SMEs.

Focus on long term, sustainable solutions


MEET-BIS assists selected private sector suppliers in developing commercial markets for their energy and water efficiency products that target SMEs. The programme supports the development of technical capacities, marketing and sales capacities, and financing solutions. As the capacity building needs of the partners are diverse, flexible and responsive learning support is provided.

The MEET-BIS team is developing technology partnerships with key suppliers in selected sectors, with the ambition to serve 750 SMEs over the project life span. MEET-BIS does not sell efficiency technologies for SMEs, but assists the partner suppliers to do so. To enhance their capacity to sell to the SME market, the project provides assistance with:

Translating efficiency products into Business Innovation Packages, with a clear added value to SME clients (cost savings);

Developing relevant sales skills and marketing materials; Providing hands-on technical installation and after-sales service training;

Improving access to finance for both the suppliers themselves as well as the SMEs they target.


The project intervention strategy is based on scaling up initiatives that have been piloted in the past few years, introducing them into the market, and ensuring their commercial viability. It is foreseen that over 6,250 SMEs will be reached in the five years after the project has ended.

Project partners

ETC Energy (www.etc-energy.org)
AdaPPPt (www.triodosfacet.nl)
Aidenvironment (www.aidenvironment.org)
Budget and duration The MEET-BIS programme started in April 2009 and will run over four years. The total budget of the programme is €1.950.000, of which 80% is provided by EuropeAid,

For more information, please contact:

ETC Foundation, Energy Unit

Email: energy@etcnl.nl; Phone: +31 33 4326025 (office)