Equipment & Technology Market

 

The Resolution of the 9th Party Congress has pointed out that Vietnam must develop its science-technology market to tap the great potentials of Vietnamese science and technology in the implementation of industrialisation and modernisation. After intensive study, Science and Technology Department of Ho Chi Minh city in December 1999 initiated and organised the first model in Vietnam : Equipment & Technology Market.

 

The preparation for a 3-day market took almost four months as the organisers had to determine the demand of customers, topics of the market, concerned science and service and their products, related documents and places for business meetings and signing of contracts.

 

The market has focused on practical and pressing demands of the enterprises in Ho Chi Minh City and Southern provinces such as food processing, plastic models, mechanics, etc. After the market, many enterprises have turned to local equipment and technology at much lower cost instead of importing from outside. Several enterprises have even ordered equipment and technology suitable to their typical production.

 

With the success in Ho Chi Minh city, the market has been multiplied nation-wide, first in Hanoi in October 2003, and later 21 markets in 9 cities and provinces : HCMC, Hanoi, Can Tho, Dong Nai, Da Nang, Daklak, Gia Lai, Phu Yen and Nghe An. So far, over 1,100 offers have been made by science institutes on 7,200 equipment and technology, over 230,000 visitors and nearly 10,000 contracts and MOUs signed at the market worth some VND1,200 billion. At Nghe An market in May 2005, local universities and science institutes have signed contracts on equipment, technology transfer and consulting valued at VND52 billion.

 

Besides annual equipment and technology markets, since November 2002, the Department has launched website www.techmart.cesti.gov.vn with nearly 1,000 partners offering over 2,000 solutions. The website has 3,300 loggings a day showing the increasing interest of the enterprises throughout the country. For the same purpose, the Department has organised two markets on science & technology consulting and management in HCMC and Gia Lai. As a matter of fact, the market and website have developed the science and technology in both quantity and quality.

 

Mr Nguyen Thien Nhan, Vice-Chairman of HCMC People’s Committee, reaffirmed that the market and website are on the right track, developing science and technology, creating their markets and boosting the production. According to a survey by HCMC Statistics Department, the productivity of the science and technology sector have increased its per capita income to VND242.2 million a year, far exceeding those of industry, trade, aquaculture as well as average income of the city (VND29.4 million).

 

The Department will continue its efforts and concentrate on four spearheaded industries (mechanic-automation, bio-technology, information technology and new materials) to increase competitiveness and export. To this end, scientific research and service will be promoted; hi-tech parks and bio-technology application centre established; local and international cooperation developed, intellectual properties registered. With those activities, the equipment & technology market will make greater contribution to the national economy.