Binh Thuan: Peer review of the Provincial High-Tech Park Establishment Proposal

Overview of the meeting

Attending the meeting were members of the peer review council - renowned scientists and experts with extensive experience in fields related to high-tech park development both within and outside the province. Representatives from the Binh Thuan Department of Science and Technology (the agency leading the proposal), the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Justice, and the leadership of the Vietnam - ASEAN Institute for Local Economic Sustainable Development (the consulting agency) were also present to listen to feedback and exchange information.

During the session, the peer review council presented detailed findings, analyses, and scientific assessments of the draft proposal. The feedback focused on several key aspects, including:

Overall approach and legal basis: The peer review council commended the drafting agency's efforts in developing the proposal. However, it also pointed out several areas that require further clarification, including the scientific rationale, the urgency of the project, the specific development model, the potential for resource mobilization, regional connectivity, and the application of lessons learned from other high-tech parks both domestically and internationally.

Assessment of current conditions and feasibility for establishing a high-tech park: The council members conducted an in-depth analysis of Binh Thuan’s natural, socio-economic, and scientific-technological factors, comparing them with the necessary conditions for establishing a high-tech park as defined by current regulations. The council provided specific feedback on data accuracy, relevant lessons learned, and identified the province’s potential and challenges in terms of geographic location, infrastructure, human resources, and the broader international context.

Development vision, objectives, and orientation: The council discussed the relevance and feasibility of the proposed development perspectives, objectives, and orientations for the high-tech park outlined in the proposal. Comments centered on identifying priority sectors based on the province’s competitive advantages, such as renewable energy, high-tech agriculture, processing industries, high-tech tourism, new materials, and logistics. The council also emphasized the practicality of the proposed objectives and the necessity of formulating a concrete action plan.

Proposed location and scale: emphasizing the need for a thorough review of the proposed site for the high-tech park to avoid overlapping with other provincial planning zones.

Development directions and impact forecast: providing initial comments on the relevance and feasibility of the proposed development directions, and highlighted key factors that should be carefully considered when forecasting the socio-economic impacts of the high-tech park.

Additional feedback was given regarding investment capital requirements, the proposed investment roadmap, concrete implementation solutions, and the organizational structure for executing the proposal.

During the meeting, representatives from the Department of Science and Technology and the consulting unit attentively listened to and seriously acknowledged the Council’s feedback. Both sides engaged in open and candid discussions to clarify key issues and reach a consensus on directions for amending and supplementing the proposal.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the President of the Provincial Union of Science and Technology Associations cum the Chair of the Review Council highly appreciated the responsible, objective, and professional working spirit of the Council members. The Union will compile all comments and feedback in writing and submit them to the Provincial People’s Committee, the Department of Science and Technology, the consulting unit, and other relevant agencies as soon as possible. We believe that with serious consideration of the feedback and appropriate adjustments, the proposal to establish the Binh Thuan High-Tech Park will become a key driver for the province’s future socio-economic development./.