City starts work on biotechnology center
By Kinh Luan - The Saigon Times Daily
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| HCMC chairman Le Hoang Quan (3rd, R) and HCMC Department of Agriculture and Rural Development director Le Thanh Liem(2nd, L) join other delegates to break ground for the HCMC Biotech Center in District 12 - Photo: Kinh Luan |
HCMC – Work started on Tuesday on the HCMC Biotechnology Center, six years after the HCMC government signed a decision establishing the center to support the development of high-tech agriculture in the city.
The center covers 23 hectares of land in District 12, not far from the Quang Trung Software City, and requires an investment capital of US$100 million for the first stage.
This center, the first of its kind in Vietnam, will be a multi-function complex engaging in research and development, training, technology transfer, and manufacturing of bio-products for use in the areas of agriculture, medicine, pharmaceutics and environment.
Duong Hoa Xo, director of the center, said at the ceremony that the new facility would serve as a science center in response to the central Government’s program for biotechnological development in the period of 2006-2020.
According to him, the center now has three laboratories specializing in molecule biology, technologies of plant cell and microorganism. Besides, the center also has a 2,500-square-meter conservatory for growing orchids and ornamental plants, and a bio-product workshop.
The project will be finished in 2014 with 13 specialized sections. The section of “Research & Test Production” will have 12 laboratories with advanced equipment while the Research Department will be built as a workplace for 200- 300 scientists.