Construction of the Vietnam National Space Centre started at the Hoa Lac High-tech Park in Hanoi on September 19.

At a ground-breaking ceremony, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) President Chau Van Minh said the centre will create the foundation for space technology research, training, applications and international cooperation.

 Japanese Ambassador Yasuaki Tanizaki said Japan wants to help Vietnam – which is considered to be one of the nations most seriously affected by climate change – manage and forecast natural disasters with observation satellites.

He added that the centre will also help promote the development of the Hoa Lac High-tech Park, which has already received significant Japanese investment.

The project will be implemented by VAST, with design and construction support from Japanese engineers and technicians.

Covering an area of nearly 9ha, it will be built at a cost of nearly 54.4 billion Yen (US$700 million), with 46.5 billion Yen from Japanese investors and the remainder from local sources.

Once completed in 2020, the facility will become a leading modern space centre in Southeast Asia. It will undertake a wide range of important work, from designing, assembling and controlling small observation satellites to collecting and analysing satellite data.

It is expected the centre will assist the observation and prediction of weather conditions, monitor Vietnamese territory, and enable an early warning system for natural and environmental disasters.

It will also help forecast agricultural and seafood output, update e-map system for land management and planning, and research the impact of global climate change.

(VOV)