Although 2021 is greatly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, Binh Duong continued to satisfy 6 rigorous criteria of ICF to be honored in the Smart21 list, including: Broadband connection platform, knowledge human resources, innovation, equal digital access, support for encouragement and sustainable development. The Smart 21 list will continue to be researched and evaluated by ICF for the depth of the development strategy of the localities, looking at the inheritance, depth and consistency of the strategy, in order to finally create values for the prosperity and happiness of the community, before selecting the final 7 names in the Top7 taking place in June 2022 and choosing the Top1 Smart City at the ICF Global Summit in October 2022.
List of 21 communities with outstanding smart city development strategies of the world honored by ICF
In 2021, Binh Duong continued to implement foundation projects and build the Smart City Development Project for the next phase 2022 – 2026, in which the focus is on innovation, industry 4.0 and smart growth. Binh Duong continued to closely associate with Eindhoven city (Netherlands) and international organizations, determined to implement the Smart City Project as the goal of the 11th Provincial Party Congress, 2020-2025 tenure set out. This will be an important driving force for Binh Duong to recover after Covid-19, making a breakthrough to welcome the 4.0 era.
After basically completely controlling the Covid-19 pandemic, bringing people's lives to a new normal, Binh Duong quickly implemented the construction of the Binh Duong Intelligent Operation Center (referred to as IOC Center) to put it into operation effectively. Promoting and taking advantage of the advantages of technology application not only makes an important contribution to repel the pandemic, but also creates favorable conditions for the province to restore the economy, continue to realize the aspiration to successfully build a smart city. In addition to promoting socio-economic development, Binh Duong actively expands bilateral and multilateral cooperation in many fields. The province has established bilateral cooperation relationships with 10 foreign provinces and cities and is an official member and reliable partner of many major international organizations such as ICF, Asian Economic Cooperation Forum Horasis and World Trade Centers Association (WTCA).
World Trade Center Binh Duong New City
Becamex IDC has been trusted by the provincial leaders to coordinate with agencies and international partners from Eindhoven-Netherlands and Singapore, experts and scientists from other developed countries to implement the Binh Duong Innovation Region project, which is a breakthrough in the next phase of the Binh Duong Smart City Project, and is expected to promote and build Binh Duong into a province with a broader innovation ecosystem, creating a foundation for building an attractive investment environment, gradually becoming a smart production area, less labor intensive, attracting industries with high gray matter and a healthy living environment.
The fact that Binh Duong is the only locality in Vietnam to be honored for the 4th time in a row by ICF, affirms that the development direction of Binh Duong Smart City is right and in line with world trends. In 2022, Becamex IDC will continue to accompany Binh Duong province to deploy many breakthrough programs of the province in the next phase such as: Developing road and waterway transport infrastructure, proposing the Government for Binh Duong province to study and invest in Bau Bang - Thi Vai industrial railway, extending the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien Metro line towards Di An city; developing the scheme of social housing, housing for workers; promoting cross-border e-commerce development; developing Science and Technology Industrial Parks and Smart Urban Areas; training and attracting high-quality human resources through the ecosystem of Becamex IDC, especially at Eastern International University; promoting the implementation of the Binh Duong Innovation Region project - the focus of the Binh Duong Smart City Project in the next phase, in which the focus is on developing trade in high-quality services through the operation of the World Trade Center Binh Duong New City.
Reported by Mai Xuan- Van Thuan- Translated by Thanh Tam