On 27th June 2013, the delegation of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) led by the Mr. Nghiem Vu Khai – the Deputy Minister visited and worked with the Department of Science and Technology in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province about the provincial activities of Science and Technology in recent years as well as directions and solutions to solve the difficulties in the future.
Mr. Nghiem Vu Khai – the Deputy Minister and the delegation visited Busadco - Scientific and Technological Business
Participating in the meeting, there were Mr. Nghiem Vu Khai, the Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Mr. Ho Ngoc Luat, the Head of the Department of Local Science and Technology Development; Mr. Chu Thuc Dat, the Deputy Head of the Department of Local Science and Technology Development; Mr. Pham Ngoc Minh, the Deputy Director of Agency for Southern Affairs.
On the side of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, there were Mr. Mai Thanh Quang, the Director of the Department of Science and Technology in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province; Mr. Nguyen Kim Truong, the Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province and the representatives of provincial Departments.
Making a report at the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Kim Truong said: in 2012 and 2013, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province deployed 20 new themes of scientific research and technological development in the fields including: Basic survey of natural conditions and environmental protection, Social sciences and humanities, Agriculture - Forestry – Fishery, Health - Education, ... The themes and projects were selected with the urgency and high applicability. Some outstanding themes which should be mentioned include "Research on the factors affecting water quality of Da Den Lake and proposal of solutions for the integrated management"; the theme of " Research on the quick multiplication of rootstock invitro to create the seed pepper tree being capable to resist quickly - died disease"; the theme of "Replication the result of applying the information technology for managing the number of inhabitants in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province"...
Along with the development of researching projects at provincial level, annually, the Department of Science and Technology in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province has also cooperated with the Provincial People’s Committee, farmers' associations of the districts to transfer and apply the advanced science and technology directly into agriculture, farmers, rural areas such as the models of breeding freshwater fish, crab and fish for trading...
In 2012, the Department of Science and Technology supported 5 businesses with total amount of 228 million VND; in 2013, the Department of Science and Technology set up the Council for approving 2 themes in the field of information technology and innovation of technological equipment with total supporting amount of 300 million VND.
However, Mr. Mai Thanh Quang, the Director of the Department of Science and Technology in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province said: The level of science and technology had not been really a motivation of socioeconomic development of the province besides the achievements; there have been short of strategic researches and applications. The themes and projects of scientific research and industrial development mainly have focused on the health, agriculture, medical education, information technology more than the remaining industries belong to the province's strengths such as industry, services - tourism, marine application. It is incommensurate.
Moreover, the numbers of Scientific and Technological staff have been increased but the structure of sector has not been reasonable, the quality has not been adequate, especially the management capability and scientific and technological research and application, there have been short of experienced and qualified experts and the leaders.
Mr. Mai Thanh Quang also said: In order to overcome these difficulties and shortcomings in the scientific and technological development of the province, the science and technology were expected to be allocated a total of 243,329 billion VND in 2014, in which, the cost estimate of development investment in science and technology will be 107 billion VND and 136,329 billion VND for the cause of Science & Technology.
Making a speech at the meeting, the Deputy Minister Nghiem Vu Khai said the Party, Government and Ministries had been very interested in local scientific and technological development in the past time. The amended Law on Science and Technology in 2013 was adopted with many important contents about the development of local science and technology. It would be a new motivation to promote the strong development in this field.
He also said: the scientific & technological activities in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province had achieved significant successes in two recent years, but these results had not been commensurate with the potential of the province. Ba Ria - Vung Tau province has a lot of advantages of sea, minerals, industry, .. but the available and potential advantages have not been fully exploited for economic development for years. The application of science and technology in production has not met the practical requirements. Specially, there have been only 02 scientific and technological businesses in the whole province. This is a modest number compared with the local potential. The provincial authorities should take the initiative in proposing the scientific tasks associated with actual requirements, exploit available internal resources of the province, especially pay more attention to assist businesses to innovate technology and promptly submit the proposals to the Ministry of Science and Technology for appropriate solutions contributing to the scientific and technological development in the province.