The HCM City Party Committee held aconference on February 16 to review the 10-year implementation of the 11th-tenureParty Central Committee’s Resolution 20-NQ/TW, issued on November 1, 2012 onthe development of science and technology toward international integration. The resolution was issued in service of industrialisation andmodernisation amid the socialist-oriented market economy.
It reported that over the last 10years, the southern metropolis has strongly applied science and technology topublic administration, especially using information technology in publicservices. The technological level of industrial production businesses has also beenimproved gradually.
The general speed of technologicaland equipment reform in the city was about 18.85% annually during 2016 - 2020,an increase from the 15% before 2016. Meanwhile, total spending on machineryand equipment averaged 20.6 trillion VND (870.3 million USD at the current exchangerate) each year.
This could be seen in the high totalfactor productivity (TFP), 35.62% on average, with science and technologycontributing to 74% of the TFP growth. Between 2011 and 2021, the social labourproductivity in HCM City was 2.7 times higher and the productivity growth was1.7 times higher than the nationwide figures.
Deputy Minister of Science and TechnologyLe Xuan Dinh said HCM City is home to thousands of startups that account forabout half of the total in Vietnam. Meanwhile, total investment in science,technology and innovation needs to make up at least 2% of the local GRDP, but itis hard for the state budget to cover the rate.
Therefore, HCM City should payattention to attracting investment from venture funds to startups andinnovation, he suggested.
The municipal Party Committee said inthe coming time, HCM City will focus on reforming the system of science and technologyorganisations, and enhance connectivity with businesses indeveloping and reforming technology. They will also work to train manpower, offer preferentialtreatment to attract science and technology personnel. The committee plans to expand cooperation withinternational partners, and attract overseas Vietnamese scientists and technological experts./.