A draft decree has revealed plans to establish a carbon credit exchange and a green finance products exchange as part of Vietnam's upcoming International Financial Center (IFC) to be established in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang city. These platforms will operate alongside exchanges for commodities, cultural products, and precious metals.

This proposal is a key component of the draft decree which is currently undergoing consultation before it is submitted to the Government. The decree aims to establish the regulatory framework for import-export activities, service and goods distribution, and the operation of various trading platforms within the projected IFC.

The IFC is envisioned as a comprehensive hub designed to host a diverse range of exchanges, covering both traditional commodity markets and emerging financial and commercial products.

According to the draft decree, members of the IFC will be permitted to establish and operate exchanges and trading platforms in several key areas, including: commodities and commodity derivatives, carbon credits, cultural and artistic products, precious metals, green finance products, and other specialized exchanges and new trade platforms as development demands.

The draft stipulates that only products that meet environmental standards and criteria—defined by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in line with international practices—can be listed and traded. The exchange will be responsible for transparently publishing independent audit reports on the products' "green" credentials, appraisal processes, and investment capital flows.

The carbon credit exchange will facilitate the trading of emission reduction credits that conform to international standards. It will require a transparent Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) mechanism, valid certification from competent authorities, and strict compliance with regulations on data storage, information disclosure, and fraud prevention in carbon trading.