Receiving and working with the delegation were Mr. Ngo Chi Cuong, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nhan, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; and Mr. Huynh Minh Tuan, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, along with leaders of relevant provincial departments, committees, sectors, and local enterprises.

Leaders of Dong Thap province attending the working sesion. Photo: by Tran Thi

Delivering his opening remarks, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Nhan expressed his gratitude for the attention and companionship of the Ministry of Science and Technology toward Dong Thap. He noted that Dong Thap has entered a new stage of development with the goal of achieving rapid and sustainable growth, striving for double-digit growth rates, and elevating Dong Thap’s standing within the Mekong Delta region.

The province possesses numerous potentials and advantages in agriculture, processing industries, commerce, and export, featuring the Tien River system and a development space extending from the border to the East Sea. However, to transform these potentials into productivity, added value, and competitiveness, Dong Thap must strongly renew its growth model, in which science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation play pivotal roles as key drivers

The Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee giving a speech at the working session. Photo by Tran Thi

In this context, the Coordination Program between the Ministry of Science and Technology and Dong Thap province for the 2026 - 2030 period holds strategic and practical significance. The province expects the program to help resolve practical development challenges, build new production capacities, enhance management efficiency, and promote the digital economy to make an increasingly significant contribution to the province's growth.

Accordingly, Dong Thap has identified four core areas of cooperation: developing data-driven and artificial intelligence-based governance models; applying science and technology to enhance the value of key commodity sectors; promoting enterprise innovation and developing the digital economy into a new growth driver; and prioritizing resources for high-impact tasks and projects.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee stated that the province has registered 9 projects with a total capital demand of VND 4,260 billion from the central budget for the 2026 - 2030 period, focusing on digital transformation and smart urban. Dong Thap requested the Ministry to provide guidance, assist in reviewing and selecting truly necessary, efficient, and eligible projects, and compile and propose competent authorities to consider supporting resources in accordance with regulations.

Delegates discuss and share solutions for advancing science and technology and driving digital transformation. Photo by Tran Thi

According to the implementation results of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, Dong Thap province has completed 173 out of 274 assigned tasks (achieving 63.14%) since early 2026. Two tasks are currently being implemented within their deadlines (0.73%), 99 tasks are being performed regularly (36.13%), and there are zero overdue tasks.

Products developed through research and knowledge transfer have been embraced by businesses, progressively meeting manufacturing needs. This first result shows that research may be successfully incorporated into market development and production. In terms of technology management and technology market development, the province has offered technological appraisals for 83 investment projects. Currently, 30 science and technology enterprises and 20 innovative start-ups are operating in the province.

Large language models, AI cameras, autonomous robotics, 5G infrastructure, blockchain traceability, and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) are the main topics of the strategic technological development program for the years 2026 - 2030. 100% of municipal levels are connected through online conferences; document digitization and electronic result issuing rates both reached 99.19%; shared infrastructure and platforms are maintained, reviewed, and standardized.

During the working session, enterprises contributed practical recommendations to remove bottlenecks in science and technology development serving industrial sectors. Ms. Truong Thi Le Khanh, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Vinh Hoan Corporation, recommended establishing a National Program on Gene Databases and catfish selective breeding linked to aquatic health; reviewing wastewater standards and lining requirements for aquaculture ponds; and finalizing guidelines for recycling sludge into microbial organic fertilizer to promote a circular economy. Additionally, enterprises proposed establishing a research commissioning mechanism through the Mekong Delta Fisheries Innovation Center to apply AI, IoT, and automation in production.

Sharing the perspective of connecting research with practical production, Mr. Bui Bang Son, Director of Tri Son Trading and Services Co., Ltd., requested the Ministry of Science and Technology to support research on diversifying deep-processed products from bird's nest combined with local agricultural products, as well as specific guidelines on support policies for importing large-scale advanced technological production lines.

Mr. Vu Hai Quan, member of the Party Central Committee and Minister of Science and Technology, delivering his remarks. Photo  by Tran Thi

Providing guiding directions, Minister of Science and Technology, Mr. Vu Hai Quan highly appreciated the exchanges at the working session. He emphasized that in the current context, science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation are identified as primary driving forces and core tools to implement a new growth model and achieve a breakthrough national development. For the Mekong Delta in general and Dong Thap province in particular, despite great advantages in agriculture and fisheries, value addition per hectare remains limited. Therefore, to achieve double-digit growth, science and technology must be deeply integrated into all agricultural processes-from cultivation, selective breeding, feed, and vaccines to deep processing and the circular economy. In this process, enterprises must be designated as the central entities and the most important force to commercialize products and generate practical value.

The Minister of Science and Technology stressed that the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding today is merely a foundational step; more importantly, a regular coordination mechanism must be established to decisively resolve bottlenecks regarding finance, procedures, infrastructure, and data. The Ministry of Science and Technology is committed to constantly accompanying and facilitating Dong Thap province in removing difficulties.

Furthermore, universities within the province serve as a massive talent pool. National science and technology development funds are readily available to invest directly in research topics and projects closely aligned with practical enterprise challenges. Regarding key solutions for commodity industries, flagship enterprises should sit down with research institutes and universities to select priority tasks, such as for the catfish industry, the bird's nest industry, or other core products.

The Minister of Science and Technology expressed high expectations for the resolute leadership of Dong Thap province, provincial departments and sectors, and the companionship of the business community to turn potentials into tangible productivity and economic growth in the coming period.

The Ministry of Science and Technology signs a cooperation program with the People's Committee of Dong Thap Province. Photo by Tran Thi

On this occasion, the Ministry of Science and Technology signed a Coordination Program with the People's Committee of Dong Thap province on the development of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation for the 2026 - 2030 period. The program focuses on five key tasks: building data platforms and applying AI to serve socio-economic development governance; applying science and technology to enhance the value of four key commodity sectors; utilizing science and technology in water resource management and climate change adaptation; developing deep-processing technology, industry, and the circular economy; and developing an innovation ecosystem and technology commercialization.

Concluding the session, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Nhan stated that immediately following the meeting, the Provincial People's Committee will direct the Department of Science and Technology to lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to fully absorb the directive opinions and promptly translate the Coordination Program into an implementation plan. The province looks forward to receiving continuous attention, guidance, and companionship from the Ministry of Science and Technology so that the Coordination Program truly creates a new impetus for Dong Thap's double-digit growth and sustainable development.

Trần Thi - Phương Thanh