The Centre for Bio-technology Research and Application complex now under construction in southern Dong Nai Province is expected to be one of the leading centres of its kind in Southeast Asia, according to Nguyen Quan, deputy minister of Science and Technology.

Expected to be completed within the decade, the 227-ha complex is being built in Xuan Duong Commune in Cam My District.

The building cost of VND1 trillion (US$50 million) is sourced from the province's budget and investors.

The centre is about 10 kilometres from HCM City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Highway and Long Thanh International Airport, which is currently being built, and 15 kilometres from Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province.

The province is seeking more investors for the complex, according to the project management board.

From 2010 – 2015, infrastructure such as roads, telecommunications, electricity supply, administrative areas and dormitories will be built.

From 2015 – 2020, state-of-the-art facilities for biotech research and application in agriculture, food, medicine and environment will be built.

The centre will work with local and international organisations to develop human resources as well as biotechnology research and exchange in the province.

In addition, in an effort to save money, the centre plans to co-operate with other biotech centres to prevent duplication of similar work or research.

It plans to create linkages among various hi-tech zones from universities and institutes in and outside the province and other countries.

In recent years, Dong Nai Province conducted biotech research and applied those findings to the fields of agriculture, forestry and aquaculture. 

By My Le