Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan said at the workshop (Photo: Truong Giang / vietnamplus)

Attending the workshop, there were Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan; Deputy Head of the Southwest Steering Committee Duong Quoc Xuan; representative leaders of Departments under Ministry of Science and Technology; Kien Giang provincial leaders along with 200 participants from research institutes, universities and Departments of Science and Technology, Southern businesses.

Speaking at the workshop, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan said South West is a full potential region, especially the strength of the agricultural products, but the application of science and technology in production still limited.

Therefore, through this workshop Ministry of Science and Technology wants to put national science and technology programs to Southwest provinces, in association with requirements of sustainable economic - social development in the region, focusing mainly on agriculture production and fisheries; study of plant varieties and new animal breeds to create products with national brands, such as rice,
pangasius, medicinal mushrooms and etc.

The workshop is an opportunity for managers, scientists and enterprises to meet, exchange experiences and research results. This is a also chance to promote coordination and cooperation, in order to promote the development of advanced science and technology applications in the fields of economic - social development of the Southern provinces in particular and the whole country in general.

Nine reports presented at the workshop focused on key issues, such as introducing national technology innovation programs; the status development of the science and technology enterprises; Vietnam science and technology market today and science and technology market development programs by 2020; science and technology for sustainable development in the Southwest region; national program "Improving the productivity and quality of products and goods of Vietnam Businesses to 2020" in the southern provinces; intellectual property development support programs service locally economic - social development; an overview of the national program for development of high technologies, national product programs and etc.

At the workshop, Executive Office of National Technology Innovation Fund introduced this Fund to the delegates. With chartered capital to VND 1,000 billion, National Technology Innovation Fund will focus on improving the quality of economic growth, innovation of growth models taking science and technology and innovation activities as the foundation, creating motivation for the sustainable development of the country.

The object of the Fund is primarily businesses, organizations and individuals who have innovative activities and science and technology applications to bring to markets products or new services with high technology values.