Binh Duong further creates breakthrough in socio-economic development

Binh Duong has made itself onto the list of 21 localities worldwide having outstanding smart city development strategies (Smart21) this year, which was unveiled on February 25 by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF). It is the third year in a row that the province has received the recognition. Binh Duong is also the first Vietnamese locality to be named in the Smart21. For greater concern, Binh Duong newspaper has just had an interview with Dr.Nguyen Viet Long, Director of provincial Department of Science-Technology cum Director of Binh Duong Smart City Office.

-Binh Duong has continued being named in the ICF’s  Smart21 list for the third time. Could you tell us about the event obviously?

The Smart21 list was unveiled on Thursday by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) on the morning of February 25. This is the third consecutive year that Binh Duong has received such recognition. It is also the only locality in Vietnam named in the Smart21 list. Prior to that, in October 2018, Binh Duong was the first locality in Vietnam to achieve Smart21 and officially became a member of ICF. In October 2019, Binh Duong was honored as one of the cities of the world's typical smart city development strategies for the second time in a row.

Binh Duong aims at smart production. In picture: Production of electronic circuit boards at a company in the province

As planned, following the above announcement, the ICF will further complete a questionnaire providing more information about regions in order to sort out top 7 smart communities in 2021 and the list will be announced in June 2021. They will be the focus of the ICF’s summit to be held in October 2021.

-What is the significance of the event to the local socio-economic development?

Binh Duong has affirmed its trademark when being named in the Smart21 list for the third time in a row. The result is of great significance for Binh Duong as it will help the province further create a breakthrough in socio-economic development, asserting that the province’s smart city development orientation is effective, in line with the global trend. It will also help Binh Duong raise its position in the international arena, opening up cooperation opportunities with more than 180 smart cities worldwide while strengthening investors ‘trust, creating a breakthrough in FDI attraction in the new period, absorbing hi-quality human resources, institutes and schools around the world, being the foundation for the local trade-service, hi-tech industrial development in the future.

-Which concrete solutions will Binh Duong implement in the coming time?

In the 2021-2025 period, the province will mobilize resources, update new strategies, zone the Binh Duong Innovation Region, foster its smart city development project in the new period. For the local overall development plan, the province will promote its smart city development project in the coming time, which is seen as the key one for the province to create a breakthrough to raise its position in the international arena…

The province will still uphold its strong point in industrial manufacture; especially promote hi-tech industries while bending on the shift of economic structure towards hi-quality services. In addition, the province will continue strongly realizing its orientation bringing industrial manufacture into the northern region; promote infrastructure development at hi-quality requirements while upgrading urban areas in the southern region with focus on Binh Duong new city.

To carry out the above vision, the province will attach special importance to some great orientations, including boosting overall urban development plans, especially paying more attention to fostering the Binh Duong Innovation Region with focus on Binh Duong city new in TDM city, the province’s first sci-tech park in Bau Bang district; promoting smart traffic and logistics development; further reforming administrative procedures, supporting enterprises, contributing to creating a motivation for the movement of business startup; further applying the model of linkage among the State –schools – businesses; building a development strategy on innovation culture among all walks of life, helping the province create a breakthrough in socio-economic development in the new period.

The province will also focus on comprehensive development, foster industrial manufacture in association with sci-tech development; boost trade-services, making international cooperation; promote agricultural development towards fostering rural areas via smart village, advanced agriculture programs; set up a strategy on digital transmission with focus on e-government, smart production…; bring STEM/STEAM education into education programs, encouraging creation among young generations, early preparing digital, innovative workforces for the future. Universities, colleges will continue upholding an important role in meeting the above requirements.

-Thanks a lot!

Reported by Phuong Le-Translated by K.T