Binh Duong selected as part of intelligent world community in 2019

Binh Duong joins Smart21 and becoming an official member of ICF

At a ceremony recently held in Hamilton (Canada) and through information released by its New York, US headquarters, ICF has published the list of 21 cities honoured as Intelligent Communities (Smart21).

Accordingly, Binh Duong was officially voted as one of the 21 cities which were recognised as Intelligent Communities of the World in 2019.

ICF is a global network connecting more than 180 cities from across the world which are recognised as smart communities, to cooperate for economic and social development as well as share expertise and experiences to promote the cities’ progress. ICF studies the criteria from which to build a smart framework for communities to develop.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam and leaders of WTA and Binh Duong province visited the model of Binh Duong Smart City. Photo: Le Toan

Binh Duong is also the first city in Vietnam to become a member of ICF which has been helping establish stronger international relations with the global smart community in an aim to exchange information, experience, and attract many talented people to work in Binh Duong.

With assistance from the government of Eindhoven city (the Netherlands), cooperation with Brainport Group (the Netherlands) and Becamex IDC Corporation, many workshops and field visits were held, and opinions were collected from experts, in late 2016 Binh Duong province approved the Binh Duong Smart City Project with the nucleus of Binh Duong New City.

Students from International Eastern University (Binh Duong) trying their hands at using new technology. Photo: Le Toan

According to Mary Ann Schreurs, Eindhoven's deputy mayor, 20 years ago Eindhoven had a similar start to Binh Duong. Then, Eindhoven was just a small and traditional industrial development area, with no airports and seaports. After continuously trying and developing, Eindhoven has become one of the smartest cities in the world, positioned at the top of the ICF rankings.

Binh Duong is a province located in the Southern Key Economic Zone, which has many similarities with the former city of Eindhoven because it has a large business community, many vocational training institutions, and many universities. Binh Duong province has a cooperative relationship with more than 65 countries and territories with nearly 20,000 foreigners living and working in the province.

The official accession of Binh Duong to ICF is a result of tireless efforts from local leaders, the business community, and the people, with particular merits by Becamex IDC and International East University, which contributed greatly to help Binh Duong achieve most of the criteria of ICF.

Binh Duong and Vietnam at major international platforms WTA and Horasis

Recently, Binh Duong successfully organised the World Technopolis Association (WTA). Prior to that, Binh Duong became the 106th member of WTA and was honoured to host the series of events commemorating the 20th anniversary of WTA.

At the closing session, Chairman of Binh Duong People's Committee Tran Thanh Liem stressed that based on the knowledge gained and as a member of WTA, Binh Duong will actively participate in exchange and cooperation activities with science cities in other countries. These will contribute to strengthening solidarity and friendship as well as to promoting peace and the prosperity of the entire human race.

The Asian Economic Cooperation Forum 2018 (Horasis) will take place on November 25-27 in Binh Duong. The event will be co-chaired by the Binh Duong People's Committee, Horasis, Becamex IDC, and Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park Ltd. (VSIP) in cooperation with local provincial departments and agencies.

Binh Duong New City - the venue for Horasis 2018. Photo: Le Toan

Key events at Horasis 2018 will include plenary sessions, discussion sessions, and debates among world-leading panellists.

This is an opportunity for Binh Duong to promote its image among international partners, improve its management capacity and scientific and technological level to contribute to the development of Binh Duong Smart City.

At the same time, this event also creates favourable conditions for local businesses to exchange points of view and experiences and connect to a network of senior partners, founders, general directors, and leaders of leading companies in Asia, the region, and the world over.

It also offers enhanced opportunities and partnerships for economic development, trade promotion, and investment from countries in Asia in general and Vietnam in particular.

Horasis is an international investment promotion organisation established in 2005 with the mission of connecting investors from multinational corporations around the world. Through direct dialogues, Horasis has created a platform that connects and helps local and multinational corporations in the world to seek out global partners, find solutions to the most important challenges for today's corporations, and predict international trends.