Vietnam seeks to become regional biotech manufacturing hub

According to the resolution 36-NQ/TW of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Vietnam plans to develop into one of the top ten biotechnology production and intelligent biotechnology service manufacturing centers in Asia by 2030. Vietnam's biotechnology sector will play a key role in the economic and technological fields, which is expected to contribute 7% to the gross domestic product (GDP), and the industry scale and investment are expected to increase by 50%.

According to the resolution, by 2030, domestic biotechnology products will replace half of the imported products and become the main participants in the global biotechnology market. By 2045, Vietnam will become a leading intelligent product and service center, supported by the booming biotechnology sector, which is expected to account for 10-15% of GDP, reflecting its vital importance to the national economy.

The resolution pointed out that Vietnam's current level of biotechnology development has not yet reached its potential, and its domestic capacity is not compatible with the country's socio-economic development. Compared with regional and global levels, some sectors are lagging behind. Part of the reasons are the lack of awareness of the importance of biotechnology development, the lack of appropriate mechanisms to help attract social resources into this field, and the insufficient links between scientists, research institutions and enterprises in biotechnology research and development.

The Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam has identified biotechnology as an important driving force for transforming the growth model and adjusting the economic structure. Vietnam needs to release its regional and local potential and focus on some key areas to take advantage of Vietnam's rich biodiversity. Enterprises will be the key to the development of biotechnology, and there must be breakthrough mechanisms and policies to promote the investment of all economic sectors, especially the private sector in this field. Party committees and units at all levels should fully grasp the Party's guidelines and policies and national laws and regulations on the development and application of biotechnology, continue to improve laws, mechanisms and policies in relevant fields, and effectively apply biotechnology to production and life.

The resolution calls for accelerating the modernization of laboratories and evaluation centers, and the three national biotechnology centers in the north, central and south will soon be put into operation. Several disease prevention and control centers will be built according to the international standards for disease surveillance, prevention and control. We will introduce mechanisms and policies to support technology incubators, technology business incubators and high-level biotechnology application enterprises. Establish a training model of biotechnology human resources from general education to university and post-university level, and strengthen the links between biotechnology enterprises, employers and biotechnology human resources training institutions. Build a competent human resources team, increase infrastructure investment, and strengthen cooperation with countries with advanced biotechnology, especially in technology transfer, bioeconomics, resource management and sustainable socio-economic management.