Peter Portheine, Development Director of Brainport Group, member of Binh Duong Smart City’s Executive Board: "We will provide maximum support for Binh Duong to implement projects more powerfully"

In 2015, Binh Duong signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Eindhoven City (the Netherlands) on the cooperation in applying the "Triple Helix" into building a smart city in Binh Duong. To recognize the development cooperation process, Binh Duong Newspaper made an interview with Peter Portheine, Development Director of Brainport Group, member of Binh Duong Smart City’s Executive Board.

- Sir, how has Binh Duong's Smart City development strategy made an impact on the provincial socio-economic economy?

- The Smart City project has contributed to proving the correct development strategy orientation of Binh Duong, helping Binh Duong become a high-middle-income locality, among the highest in Vietnam. This was based on the continued transformation of the provincial economy over recent years, from agriculture to industrialization, and is now growing further based on R&D (research and development), innovation and sustainability. These are the core strengths for Binh Duong to overcome the middle-income trap, reaching the highest income level in the next 15-20 years.

- Could you please explain more about the cooperation between the Dutch partner and Binh Duong in recent years, sir?

- Since 2015 - the official signing of Becamex IDC - EIPO (Eindhoven International Project Office), EIPO and Eindhoven have actively accompanied the province, in order to develop and effectively implement the Smart City development strategy. EIPO organized regular business trips to Binh Duong (about every six weeks), worked closely with Becamex IDC and Binh Duong province to hold strategic meetings, especially meetings of Smart City’s Executive Board or meetings of "three sides", set out key projects, evaluated and coordinated the implementation effectively. EIPO also continuously promoted Binh Duong Smart City at national and international events.

The Dutch partner and Binh Duong holds many face-to-face and video meetings to facilitate the smart city construction.

Recently, especially the Covid-19 pandemic has taken place on a global scale, commercial flights were stalled; however, EIPO and Becamex IDC coordinated very smoothly, making the most of digital technology and the internet. We were constantly in contact with each other, carried out online exchanges and meetings, continued to accelerate the implementation of key projects of Becamex IDC and Binh Duong, such as Science and Technology Industrial Park, Innovation Region... In order to continue to carry out specific works of the Smart City project, online meetings of Executive Board still took place in 2020 and 2021, in order to connect and facilitate the completion of the projects. In particular, in order to strengthen the relationship between Binh Duong and Eindhoven, we coordinated to organize an online meeting program between Binh Duong - Eindhoven in November 2020 and October 2021, with the participation of Binh Duong provincial leaders and Eindhoven city leaders, along with senior diplomatic officials such as the Dutch Consul in Vietnam, Vietnamese Ambassador to the Netherlands.

In addition, online events and conferences were regularly organized in order for EIPO to shares experience with Becamex IDC as well as take part in as a speaker to introduce the Binh Duong Smart City project. After the pandemic in Europe was brought under control, EIPO organized for senior ambassadors of ASEAN countries, including the Vietnamese ambassador, to visit and work in Eindhoven. During this visit, EIPO introduced innovation programs in Eindhoven and the success between Eindhoven and Binh Duong’s cooperation. Cooperation programs of EIPO -  Becamex IDC, Eindhoven - Binh Duong will be resumed; and EIPO will always try their best to provide support for Binh Duong Smart City project to develop stronger.

- Could you tell us about the potential for cooperation in building Smart City between Binh Duong and Eindhoven in the coming time?

- Binh Duong takes innovation, R&D as the driving force for economic growth, will focus on digitalization and industry 4.0. The cooperation between Binh Duong and Eindhoven will be further affirmed after the pandemic. We plan to develop detailed exchange programs for Binh Duong students and civil servants to visit and study in Eindhoven, facilitate deeper and wider learning in the Triple Helix cooperation model (Government - University - Industry). In addition, we will create specific programs to learn about the application of new technologies to modernize Binh Duong enterprises; implement extensive programs to develop digital skills for the entire population through services related to eGoverment, eCommerce and ePayments. 

- In order to continue developing and being more creative in the new phase, what solutions will Binh Duong need to focus on in the coming time, sir?

- The upcoming phase of Binh Duong's strategy focuses strongly on digital transformation. The Covid-19 pandemic has shown the power of working, learning, and health care online. In my opinion, Binh Duong will focus on building digital skills for all, implementing phase 1 of the Intelligent Operations Center (IOC), digitizing the working processes of provincial and municipal administration. In addition, works in other areas is also very important. For example, the implementation of phase 1 of Eco Village project in Bach Dang commune and R&D project on high-tech agriculture in Phu Giao district; to complete the infrastructure connecting roads and waterways between Binh Duong and seaports, airports.

In Binh Duong New City, activities to promote and develop the innovation ecosystem are increasingly spread and perfected. The formation and commissioning of the Advanced Manufacturing Center and Becamex IDC Business Incubator; Industrial Laboratory 4.0 and the cooperation agreement on Industry 4.0 with Singapore; implementation of the Sustainable Energy Center at Eastern International University. These are good examples that will strongly motivate research and training of high-quality human resources for the 4.0 era.

In addition, the Advanced Manufacturing Center will officially operate as an expert center for businesses in Binh Duong to learn about modernizing their business activities. The focus is on accelerating activities at Becamex IDC Business Incubator in Binh Duong New City and Block 71 in Ho Chi Minh City. The new WTC building will be handed over and put into operation. Binh Duong will be the host of the ICF TOP-7 event at Binh Duong New City World Trade Center. All will be specific projects for Binh Duong to continue to develop smarter and more creatively.

- EIPO in particular and Eindhoven in general is a strategic partner of Binh Duong Smart City, what proposals or steps would you have to implement the above solutions, sir?

- We discussed with Binh Duong provincial leaders to prioritize projects that bring concrete results this year. This is also a strong request from the leadership. We will carry out projects in different stages so that we can start faster and get more efficient.

- Thank you!

 Reported by Phuong Le – Translated by Ngoc Huynh