Proposal to convert Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone into a Science Park

This is one of two plans to build a science park proposed by Mr. Pham Chanh Truc, former Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, at a conference on the development strategy of the city’s High-Tech Park (SHTP) until 2030. vision 2045, morning of January 10.

Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone will expire on September 23, 2041. This is considered the first export processing zone in Vietnam, established in 1991, in Tan Thuan Dong ward, district 7. This place borders the Saigon River, about 5 km from district 1. The area has nearly 70% of businesses in the field of traditional manufacturing processing. Currently, 195 hectares of land here are used to build factories and warehouses.

According to Mr. Truc, when the city government revokes Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone, if converted into a Science and Technology Park, it will have advantages in terms of space, basic technical infrastructure, and available factories. He proposed that the city decide to establish a science park based on the recovery of Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone

In order for the Science Park to come into operation, the former Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee proposed that the city assign tasks, organize an apparatus, an operating budget and a plan to supplement and complete the technical infrastructure, in accordance with the requirements of the City. The function of the science park is to research and apply high technology. Equipment for technology research and development and business incubation at the Science Park needs to be invested according to the needs of researchers, businesses and technology research projects. Mr. Truc said that this is a plan that can be implemented quickly, just adding more functions to the Science Park.

With the plan to build a Science Park in Long Phuoc Ward, Thu Duc City, with an area of ​​200 hectares, Mr. Truc proposed that Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park should promote implementation by establishing a project management team to deploy. With a capital of more than 600 million USD for the Science Park, according to him, “it is not a large amount because for one dollar invested in the High-Tech Park, the city earns 3 times more”. “These investments are aimed at building a strong Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park, serving as a driving force for the country’s economic engine,” Mr. Truc said.

The science park was cherished by Ho Chi Minh City 15 years ago but until now it has not been able to be implemented due to lack of capital allocation, procedural problems… This is expected to be a place to focus on research and application of advanced technology in Production helps economic growth, creates good quality, competitive products… This is also a place to incubate businesses and train high-tech human resources for Ho Chi Minh City.

According to Mr. Le Quoc Cuong, Deputy Board of Management of Ho Chi Minh City Hi-Tech Park, in the development planning, the city aims to convert a number of industrial parks into high-tech parks. Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park becomes a Science and Technology Park. On this basis, SHTP is developing a draft Development Strategy until 2030, with a vision to 2045.

In the period to 2030, SHTP aims to become a Science and Technology Park, a new growth driving force for the Southeast region and the whole country. By 2045, the High-Tech Park will become a Science, Technology and Innovation Urban Area.

Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park in the coming period aims to achieve revenue of 30 billion USD from high-tech activities. Organize training and attract 20,000 high-quality personnel, including at least 20% international experts. The proportion of enterprises with science, technology and innovation activities accounts for 40% of the total number of enterprises in the High-Tech Park. Total expenditure for research and development (R&D) activities on the total annual revenue of the enterprise accounts for 3% – 5%. According to Mr. Cuong, to achieve the above target, Ho Chi Minh City Hi-Tech Park will continue to propose to all levels to improve institutions, develop technology infrastructure, change the governance system, and cooperate domestically and internationally. …

Ms. Pham Thuy Kieu, Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Research, said that in the development strategy for the coming period, the Hi-Tech Park needs to link parties to form a venture capital fund to access research and development activities. and innovation. This fund has a risk-taking mechanism in research and strong incentives for manufacturing enterprises in high-tech zones. In addition, she believes that SHTP needs a mechanism to attract talent from universities, focusing on in-depth training to create resources for research activities.