Affirming Binh Duong’s brand and position

Since 2016, Binh Duong has bravely improved its development model, being determined to make a breakthrough in socio-economic development by implementing the Smart City Project, creating the future, raising the level of development and affirming Binh Duong brand in the international arena. On June 20 and 21, the World Smart Community Forum (ICF) will hold a ceremony to honor the TOP 7 World Smart Communities 2022 at provincial Exhibition and Convention Center. The event once again affirms Binh Duong brand in the international arena.

Four times in a row honored by ICF

In February, 2022, after 3 consecutive times in TOP 21 (Smart 21), Binh Duong entered the TOP 7 communities with the world’s typical smart city development strategies in 2021. The ICF is a forum consisting of nearly 200 smart and prosperous cities in the world. With this result, it has confirmed the recognition of the international community for the right strategy and steady development steps of Binh Duong in recent years.

Binh Duong smart region was one of the world’s communities with typical smart city development strategies in 2021

Mai Hung Dung, member of provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice-Chairman of provincial People's Committee, Head of the Executive Board of Binh Duong Smart City said: “For an area to enter the TOP 7, first of all, it needs to satisfy 6 strict criteria that were tested in the TOP 21 round. Especially in the TOP 7 round, the ICF also researched and evaluated the depth of the development strategy, looking at the inheritance, the depth and the consistency of the strategy, creating values ​​for the prosperity and happiness of the community. Through the implementation of breakthrough strategies, including the Innovation Region Project - the focus of the Smart City Project in the upcoming development period, Binh Duong has been highly appreciated by the ICF. The fact that Binh Duong is the only locality in Vietnam to be honored for the fourth time in a row by the ICF affirms that the development direction of Binh Duong Smart City is right and in line with the world’s trend.

To be honored in TOP 7 by ICF, over the past 25 years, Binh Duong, first of all, the generations of provincial leaders have always been consistent with the philosophy of taking people as the center of all strategies, thereby trying to create a perfect ecosystem to serve people, investors and workforce. The State and businesses have accompanied, shared, understood and oriented the future for the happiness of the community.

Facing the trend of the industrial revolution 4.0, Binh Duong is the large industrial economic region with a modern infrastructure system and a dynamic government that are the foundation and favorable conditions for the Smart City Project to be born in 2016, creating a breakthrough in both technological and non-technological comprehensive development, Binh Duong is specially planned under 6 criteria of the prestigious organization ICF with the goal of participating in this forum soon. These 6 criteria are also important basic foundations for smart city development, knowledge economy and digital economy, including: (1) Broadband deployed in the region, (2) Intellectual workforce as well as training and research activities, (3) Innovation policies and activities in the community, (4) Equal access to digital technology for all people in the community, (5) Sustainable development, (6) The support and encouragement of the whole community.

To achieve the above criteria, the province has planned smart areas and pioneered development, becoming a member of ICF. Once becoming a member of ICF, Binh Duong will help expand exchanges, learn and exchange experience with nearly 200 prosperous provinces and cities around the world in the ICF, blending with the world’s new development trends, creating confidence for investors, relocating the local brand in the international arena.

Implementing the Smart City Project over the past 6 years contributed to the realization of 4 breakthrough programs of provincial Party Committee for the 2016-2020 tenure. In particular, in 2021, although being greatly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, Binh Duong continued satisfying ICF’s 6 rigorous criteria to be honored in the Smart 21 list. Besides promoting socio-economic development, Binh Duong has actively expanded bilateral and multilateral cooperation in many fields. The province has established bilateral cooperation relations with 10 foreign provinces and cities and is an official member and reliable partner of many major international organizations such as the ICF, the Asian Economic Cooperation Forum (Horasis), the World Trade Center Association (WTCA).

Becamex IDC has been assigned the task of cooperating with agencies, departments, international partners from Eindhoven and Singapore, experts and scientists from other developed countries to implement the Binh Duong Innovation Region project. The Innovation Region is a breakthrough, the next phase of the Smart City Project, which is expected to promote and build Binh Duong into a province with a broader innovation ecosystem, creating the foundation for building an attractive investment climate, gradually becoming a smart production area that is less labor intensive, attracting industries with high gray matter and a healthy living environment.

Affirmation of development

These days, in front of the square of provincial Convention and Exhibition Center in Binh Duong New City, the national flags of countries with strategies to build smart cities flutter. On the big streets, there are many banners with information in celebration of the ICF event honoring the TOP 7 World Smart Communities that will take place on June 20 and 21. The event is an opportunity for Binh Duong to affirm the development of the Smart City Project under the “Triple Helix” model and 6 criteria of the ICF. This is also an opportunity for Binh Duong to look back on its achieved results, demonstrating to ICF leaders about Binh Duong's works and achievements while officially announcing the Binh Duong Smart City development strategy for the period of 2022-2026.

Mr. Dung said: “The event to honor TOP 7 World Smart Communities 2022 is an opportunity for organizations in Binh Duong to access new knowledge, vision and grasp the common development events about Binh Duong Smart City as well as other communities in the world, learn about the trends of the era, advanced technologies and innovations for socio-economic development. This is also a very favorable opportunity for Binh Duong, businesses, institutes and schools to exchange and connect with a network of global smart communities. The event is an opportunity for the locality to improve its ability to find new opportunities and partners, develop management capacity, science and technology level, promote trade and attract investment, thereby creating the important foundation to continue contributing to the program of socio-economic breakthrough, developing the Binh Duong Smart City project. The event honoring TOP 7 World Smart Communities 2022 is the first international event to be held in Binh Duong after the Covid-19 pandemic, which has great significance in demonstrating to other communities about Binh Duong's resilience in construction and development".

Vo Van Minh, Vice-Secretary of provincial Party Committee, Chairman of provincial People's Committee: "With the keen awareness of the opportunities and challenges in the coming time, Binh Duong’s Party, government and people will continue posing new challenges and realize them on the basis of flexibly and creatively applying guidelines and policies, applying sci-tech achievements, seeking resonance and companionship from provinces, cities, countries and territories to continue developing to new heights. Binh Duong aims at becoming a dynamic center for regional and inter-regional linkages, continuing to be a pioneering model in efforts to overcome the middle-income trap, sustainably developing towards a modern, smart and civilized city”.

Reported by Phuong Le-Translated by Kim Tin