On 16/12, Nam Long Group was awarded the ACCA Approved Employer - Professional Development certification by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). This recognizes the company's adherence to international standards for training, developing, and maintaining the professional competence of its finance and accounting team.

According to a Nam Long representative, this certification from ACCA, a global leader in finance and accounting, reflects the company's view of financial management as a core strategy for long-term growth. In a real estate market facing increasing pressure for transparency, risk management, and capital access, standardizing the finance team to international benchmarks is considered fundamental to a sustainable development strategy.

Building a strong financial foundation

The ACCA certification does not assess a company based on short-term business results. Instead, it focuses on the system for developing the competence of the finance and accounting team, including continuous training, professional ethics standards, and the ability to meet international governance requirements.

According to Lucas Loh, Chief Executive Officer of Nam Long Group, financial management extends beyond merely recording or controlling data. It serves as a strategic pillar linked to the capacity for sustainable development.

Nam Long's leadership believes that sustainable development, in addition to environmental criteria or the ESG framework, also relies on the competence and succession planning of its personnel, particularly in finance and accounting roles. In the real estate sector, characterized by long investment cycles and substantial capital utilization, the finance team's role transcends compliance, becoming "guardians of trust, managers of capital flows, and facilitators of decision-making."

Lucas Loh speaking at the ACCA certification event. Photo: Thanh Tung

"Without personnel ready for the future, no legacy will be left. As we expand integrated urban area development, broaden capital partnerships, and strengthen our governance framework, the role of the finance and accounting team becomes more important than ever," the group's leader stated.

Becoming an ACCA Approved Employer - Professional Development reinforces three strategic directions Nam Long pursues in building management capabilities. First, professional expertise is developed systematically through continuous training and clear professional standards, rather than depending on individuals or fragmented experience. Second, when expanding cooperation with international partners and investors, the company employs global standard financial management methods. Third, this certification demonstrates the company's commitment to lifelong learning to build a finance team ready for future demands.

For Nam Long, a strong financial management foundation supports growth objectives and underpins a people-centric sustainable development strategy. "Land values may rise, and project values may increase, but people are the factor that creates exponential value," Lucas affirmed.

A view of Mizuki Park urban area, TP HCM, with its existing residential community. Photo: Nam Long

Nam Long's financial management capabilities are evident throughout its development. In the 2024 sustainability report, the group's consolidated revenue reached 7,100 billion VND, doubling that of 2023. The company also contributed 1,153 billion VND to the state budget, shared 709 billion VND with shareholders and credit institutions, and allocated 23 billion VND for employee bonuses.

In its latest announcement, by the end of the first 10 months of 2025, the company achieved a revenue of 9,292 billion VND, its highest historical level, surpassing the 8,200 billion VND record for the entire year of 2022. The company also aims for a revenue target of 20,000-30,000 billion VND in the coming years.

Early adoption of ESG mindset

Nam Long considers finance one of the foundations of sustainable development, alongside environmental, social, and governance factors. According to the company, sustainable development is no longer an optional add-on but a mandatory condition for maintaining long-term growth.

Currently, Nam Long is among the few real estate companies that publish an ESG sustainability report, adhering to the international GRI 2021 standard.

In the environmental pillar, the group applies green standards in planning, design, and construction, prioritizing eco-friendly materials to reduce waste and emissions. Most integrated urban areas have a low construction density, approximately 30-40%. At Waterpoint (Ben Luc - Tay Ninh), green spaces and water bodies cover 95 hectares, while preserving the riverside plant ecosystem. Similarly, Izumi City in Dong Nai dedicates over 20 hectares to green spaces and 6,1 hectares to water features.

A view of Nam Long's Waterpoint urban area in Ben Luc, Tay Ninh. Photo: Nam Long

In 2024, the company planted over 10,800 trees in its projects and maintained over 22,000 perennial trees in its nursery system. It also reduced water consumption by 29% and energy by 21% compared to the previous year, thanks to solutions like rainwater collection, reuse, and wastewater treatment.

ESG at Nam Long is also linked to social and community factors. Over 31,000 households reside in the group's urban areas, engaging in community activities such as sports, festivals, music events, and fireworks. The company maintains long-term scholarship programs and social initiatives.

ESG as a "mandatory race"

Lucas Loh, CEO of Nam Long, who has over 30 years of experience in major real estate markets like Singapore and China, assesses Vietnam as being in a transitional phase. He affirmed that in just a few years, Vietnam will resemble developed countries, where sustainable development criteria are no longer a business option but a market requirement and an "unavoidable" factor.

Therefore, according to Lucas, early ESG transformation provides leverage for the company to "leap further," strengthening the trust of shareholders, partners, and residents, and enabling Nam Long to adjust its business strategy toward long-term goals.

Sharing this view, Ton That Hac Minh, an ESG expert and founder of EarthWise Vietnam, believes real estate is one of the sectors most pressured by ESG due to its resource consumption, emissions, and broad social impact. He stated that ESG is no longer voluntary; it has become a "mandatory race" for businesses as Vietnam commits to Net Zero and the legal framework for green finance and green bonds becomes clearer.

Townhouses at Waterpoint feature ample green spaces and designs that welcome sunlight and wind, thereby saving energy. Photo: Nam Long

Minh suggests that ESG is shifting from a compliance role to a strategic tool that helps businesses access capital, control risks, and increase long-term resilience. In the real estate industry, ensuring financial management and developing projects according to green building standards like Lotus and EDGE helps reduce emissions, save energy, and create economic value, as buyers are willing to pay more for sustainable living spaces from capable developers.

Within this context, Nam Long has integrated ESG into its urban development model early on. The Waterpoint integrated urban area in Ben Luc, Tay Ninh, exemplifies how the company puts ESG into practice, from low-density planning, preserving natural canal systems, developing green spaces and water bodies, to managing resources and building resident communities.

In the future, a group representative affirmed that ESG will continue to be the "backbone" of the company's development. Nam Long deeply applies ESG to all operations by quantifying indicators for each unit and department, particularly in financial management, urban design, and product operation. Sustainable criteria are present across all segments, from affordable to high-end.

The company also aims to deliver 60,000 EHomeS social housing products and expand affordable EHome housing from now until 2030 to contribute to the community. Concurrently, the company stated it will continue to raise its governance standards to international levels, moving towards the next development phase.

"For Nam Long, sustainable development means doing what society needs. Only activities based on real needs, serving society, and bringing genuine value can lead to lasting development," the company's CEO said.

Hoai Phuong