The central Vietnam coastal town of Da Nang is a well-known tourist destination, but the city has other ambitions. One of the country’s largest Information and Communications (ICT) groups believes the region could be an ASEAN digital hub with proper investment and development.
The CMC Corporation has proposed a strategic development plan for Da Nang that would create a creative space and a digital hub, according to a report from Viet Nam News BizHub. It calls for an estimated investment of VND 12 trillion (USD 522 million) that may transform the city into one of the most important internet and data exchange sites in Southeast Asia.
The CMC Creative Space would make Da Nang a site for the 2,500-kilometer Cross Viet Nam Cable System that will span 19 provinces and cities in the country. The city could also become a data center and software and internet exchange in the trans-Viet Nam cable system. This is set to connect Vietnam with the rest of the ASEAN through the Greater Mekong Subregion Internet Exchange.
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Da Nang unveils biotech plans
In addition to becoming a digital hub, Da Nang announced a VND 651 billion (USD 28.3 million) plan to help it become an important biotech hub. The investment would go towards upgrading the Da Nang Bio-technology Centre and turn it into a major research and development campus that covers the entire region.
The proposed R&D center would assist high-tech farming and bio-tech applications in the region by supplying research and helping with the creation of plans. However, this is not the only biotech project proposed for Da Nang.
The city is hoping to attract investment for five high-tech farms outside of Da Nang to promote innovation in this field. A number of incentives have been offered by the local government to support the scheme.
This is not the first time Da Nang has tried to encourage smart farming. In 2018, the city launched a high-tech agricultural zone with Vinamilk, Hapras and Greentech among the investors in the 117- hectare project.
