Quang Nam’s high-tech park dream runs into obstacles

Quang Nam's dream of a high-tech park requires far more planning, according to experts

High-tech park ambitions

The Quang Nam People’s Committee has organised a conference themed “Models and Solutions to build and manage the high-tech park” as its first move to build a high-tech park in the province.

According to Le Van Thanh, Deputy Chairman of the Quang Nam People’s Committee, the province has great potential for developing a high-tech park. Notably, the province is located in the key central economic region and owns Chu Lai Open Economic Zone and is near Dung Quan Economic Zone. Besides, Quang Nam has deep-water ports and convenient transportation system. Additionally, it has a large land fund of 400-500 hectares to develop a high-tech park.

“Quang Nam has set out clear targets in the master plan for socioeconomic development by the end of 2025, with vision to 2030. In order to realise these planned targets, provincial leaders see developing science-technology in general and high-technology in particular as the key. In 2016, the province issued the strategies for science-technology development by 2025, one of which is building a high-tech park,” said Thanh.

However, according to a decision issued by the prime minister relating to the master plan for the development of high-tech zones up to 2020 and orientation to 2030, there will be no more large-scale high-tech parks like the three existing parks in Hoa Lac, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City. In case the cities and provinces want to develop high-tech parks, they will be built from the local budget or other capital sources called by the cities and provinces.

The above conditions are considered great barriers for Quang Nam to develop a high-tech park.

Expert advice

Numerous experts bid Quang Nam to carefully consider the issues before deciding on a high-tech park.

Notably, Prof. Chu Hao stated that in order to develop and operate a high-tech park, Quang Nam needs to build enthusiastic and professional human resources, build suitable investment attraction policies, and arrange a massive capital volume. Besides, the province needs to study construction and the operating model.

According to Prof. Nguyen Quoc Sy, chairman of VinIT Technology Institute, it takes at least 15-20 years and between two-to-three generations of scientists to complete a high-tech park in the world. Quang Nam needs to invite senior science-technology experts to provide consultancy for the construction and operation, as well as select enthusiastic investors.

Responding to the opinions of experts, Thanh said that Quang Nam will find a new way, which is different from the three existing high-tech parks. The province will co-operate with professional consultants to develop a high-tech park which is suitable with the local conditions.