Speaking at the meeting, Hau Giang Provincial Party Secretary Nghiem Xuan Thanh said that since the beginning of the term, Hau Giang's economy has continuously grown higher than the region and the whole country, marking the highest growth in nearly 20 years of the province's establishment. Specifically, the economic growth rate in 2021 reached 3.28%, 0.72% higher than the national average; in 2022 it reached 13.94%, the highest since the province's establishment, ranking fourth in the country. In the first 6 months of 2023, Hau Giang's economic growth reached 14.21%, rising to the top of the country.

According to Secretary Nghiem Xuan Thanh, the growth results have important contributions from science and technology, however, the development process has not been commensurate with the potential. The reason is that investment in science and technology in the province is still low. The quantity and quality of human resources in the area are still weak and lacking; not many investment resources for science, technology and innovation have been attracted.

Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat speaks at the meeting.

Secretary Nghiem Xuan Thanh said that Hau Giang province has issued a resolution on developing high-quality human resources, focusing on making science, technology and innovation activities a driving force for development.

“The leaders of Hau Giang province determined that in order to develop the province quickly and sustainably, in addition to taking advantage of opportunities, promoting internal resources effectively, and arousing aspirations for each cadre, party member and people in the province, another important factor is to increase the application of science and technology in production, in the operation of the political system, improve productivity, product quality and work efficiency,” affirmed the Secretary of the Hau Giang Provincial Party Committee.

Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat said that in order for science, technology and innovation to truly become a driving force, creating breakthrough solutions to promote rapid and sustainable local socio-economic development, the role of local leaders is very important.

The Minister hopes that the provincial leaders, directly the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, will continue to pay attention, direct and assign specific tasks to the Science and Technology sector so that Science, Technology and Innovation can truly accompany and directly implement development programs and plans of sectors and fields, support businesses and manufacturers in technological innovation to improve productivity, quality and increase the value of products. In addition, the Department of Science and Technology of Hau Giang province needs to proactively advise the Provincial Party Committee, the People's Council and the Provincial People's Committee on solutions to synchronously and effectively implement the assigned tasks.

Delegates attending the meeting.

“Currently, science and technology programs in the Mekong Delta are being developed, so localities need to proactively grasp and prepare conditions to take advantage of opportunities to attract investors to exploit potential advantages when the development space is expanded,” suggested Minister Huynh Thanh Dat.

According to Minister Huynh Thanh Dat, Hau Giang province in particular and localities in general need to increase investment to improve the potential of science, technology and innovation, focusing on developing and attracting human resources for science and technology, implementing practical science and technology tasks, serving technological innovation for local enterprises. Regarding the development of Hau Giang High-Tech Agricultural Zone approved by the Prime Minister, the Minister said that the province needs to develop policies to attract human resources for science and technology to work in the Zone to research, develop and disseminate technology. In addition, to have investment resources, the locality needs to gradually increase budget expenditure for science and technology activities to approach the level of 2% of total state budget expenditure in the area according to the Law on Science and Technology 2013. At the same time, the province has solutions to mobilize non-state budget funds from enterprises, sponsors, and counterpart funds to implement science and technology tasks...

The Minister also noted that Hau Giang province needs to promote the development of the innovation startup ecosystem to strongly develop the force of innovative startups with the potential for rapid growth, strengthen linkages and cooperation in the innovation network in the region. In particular, focusing on cooperation and connection with the Mekong Delta Innovation Startup Center in Can Tho. Promote the application, transfer and reception of modern, smart, green - clean - environmentally friendly technology; adapt to climate change; encourage and support enterprises to innovate technology to develop human resources for technology management and business management.

Based on the proposal and recommendation of Hau Giang province, the Ministry of Science and Technology agreed to support the locality and assigned the Department of Science and Technology and units under the Ministry to take the lead in guiding the effective implementation and promoting science and technology activities in the province in the coming time.

Within the framework of the working session, a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the People's Committee of Hau Giang province and Ho Chi Minh City National University for the period 2023 - 2028 was signed. Accordingly, the two sides will coordinate to exchange and develop plans to implement cooperation activities in various fields, aiming to promote science, technology and innovation activities, contributing to the socio-economic development of Hau Giang province.

On this occasion, the delegation of the Ministry of Science and Technology visited Thanh Khiet and Hau Giang Xanh Cooperatives, which do business in the field of aquaculture and processing of aquatic products (products from snakehead fish, square-head perch and yellow catfish). Hau Giang Xanh Cooperative currently has 8 OCOP products meeting 4-star standards, Thanh Khiet has 2 OCOP products meeting 3-star standards.

All establishments wish to apply science, technology and innovation to research and breed disease-free snakehead fish; preserve the genetic resources of snakehead fish eggs and square-head perch; produce biological feed from fish by-products; invest in processing equipment and deep processing of products; and build farming areas that meet GlobalGAP standards for export to foreign markets.

Visiting the facilities, Minister Huynh Thanh Dat highly appreciated the products of the two enterprises as well as the OCOP products of the province. The Minister emphasized: Innovation comes from enterprises, so enterprises need to set requirements for scientists to research, proactively connect, and seek support from local authorities and scientists to bring science and technology into enterprises and apply it effectively in the coming time.

THU HIEN

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