Big bio-agriculture complex to be built in Viet Nam

Viet Nam's biggest hi-tech bio-agriculture complex will be built in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong early next year, according to the deputy director of the provincial Department of Science and Technology, Dr Le Xuan Tham.

The project will cost about VND2 trillion (US$97 million), of which VND350 billion ($17 million) is from the State and local budgets while the rest is expected to be rallied from domestic and foreign investors.

The complex, located in Da Sar Commune, Lac Duong District about 15km from Da Lat City, will focus on researching and developing science and technology projects that can help enterprises.

Under the project, a technology transfer centre will be opened, where enterprises can trade and exchange information.

The project received good responses from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Vietnamese leading scientists when it was presented to them at a meeting last month, according to Tham.

"The complex can gather together many scientists and specialists from around the country," said Professor Nguyen Lan Hung, secretary general of the Viet Nam Association of Biology.

The first products from the complex will include high-quality mushrooms, genetically-modified plants, Da Lat cold-water fish, farm seeders and a water-saving lawn sprinkler, said Tham.

A detailed project plan is expected to be finished and approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology in August.