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| We are ready
to support Economic and Cultural Cooperation with Vietnam |
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The Saigon Times Weekly October 5, 2002 |
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What They Say |
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The following are some opinions of officials and academics on the Saigon High-tech Park project LE THANH HAI, chairman of HCM City People's Committee, head of the steering board for Saigon High-tech Park project: HCM City contributes 30% of the national GDP, but its industrial production is outdated with obsolete technology. The high-tech park will attract investment from high-tech manufacturers in the world and help us acquire advanced technologies. It is an effective pre-emptive move. CHU HAO, head of the Hoa Lac High-tech Park management board: The Saigon High-tech Park is a twin broder of the Hoa Lac High-tech, both were conceived 10 years ago. Hoa Lac is more fortunate as it has become a reality. Meanwhile Saigon has been delayed. With the 10-year span, our northern neighbor China developed 53 high-tech parks and attracted 20,000 high-tech companies that helped contribute 2% to China 's GDP. DAO VAN LUONG, director of HCM City Department of Science and Technology: We should offer more incentives that high-tech investors need. We must be able to supply 70-80% of the human resources needed because no multinationals come here to invest in high-tech industries talking with them ample manpower. An Indian expert advised that we should not wait for a completely feasible project but must roll up our sleeves immediately. PETER NGUYEN, president of n Trensic: I strongly believe that having a good financial plan and the capacity to implement it is integral to the long term success of the Saigon High-tech park. Investment, especially from venture capital, should be a consideration of the plan. In addition to financial investment, it will also help bring new technologies and management expertise to Vietnam. To attract venture capital, it needs concerted efforts from the project management board and proactive approaches should be developed to bring together fund managers, investment partners and strategic partners. NGUYEN CONG KHE, overseas Vietnamese: The Saigon High-tech Park can attract many overseas Vietnamese experts. At present, 60% of high-tech companies in the U.S have overseas Vietnamese who work as technicians, managers and even general managers.
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Strong interest in Saigon High-tech Park |
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management board of the Saigon High-tech Park considers overseas Vietnamese
intellectuals an important resource to help develop the project. According to overseas Vietnamese attending the seminar, overseas Vietnamese intellectuals working in high-tech centers around the world and high-tech multinationals have a desire to come back to Vietnam to contribute to the national development. Dr. Nguyen Chanh Khe, an overseas Vietnamese from America, said many overseas Vietnamese working in the Silicon Valley want to seek investment opportunities in HCM City but they are waiting for the concrete incentives from authorities. Professor and doctor Nguyen Dang Hung, an overseas Vietnamese from Belgium and lecture from De Liege University, said he was interested in the high-tech park as early as in 1990 when it was only an idea suggested by the city leaders. Hung has cooperated with the HCM City Polytechnics and Hanoi Polytechnics to train engineers at the master's and doctor's levels to prepare human resources for the project. "We are waiting for incentives for investors in the park and favorable working conditions. Once they are in place, I will market the project and invite businesses in Europe and my friends to invest," he said |