I. Viewpoints

1. To exploit comparative advantages of natural conditions, resources and socio-economic of each ecological region to develop high-tech applications in agriculture, contributing to implement objectives of restructuring agriculture of the whole country, each region towards raising added value and sustainable development.

2. High-tech applied agricultural zone will be technology nucleus to replicate high tech applied agricultural production areas of high technology applications.

3. To socialize maximum investment in constructing high technology applied agricultural zones and regions; mobilizing participation of all economic sectors, especially science and technology enterprises, organizations, attracting foreign investment sources.

II. Objectives
1. Overall objectives

To contribute to promote development of agriculture in direction of modern, large-scale commodity production, having high productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness; ensuring firmly national food, foodstuff security and boosting exports.

2. Specific objectives
2.1. To 2020

- To construct 10 high technology applied agricultural zones, out of which, 8 zones will be established under decisions of People’s Committee of centrally run provinces and cities.

- To form several high technology applied agricultural areas, focusing on following subjects: vegetables, flowers, coffee, tea, dragon fruit, dairy, beef, poultry, shrimp (salty, brackish).

- To promulgate legal documents, organizational models and human resources for managing and administrating activities of high-tech applied agricultural areas.

- To construct a number of measures and policies on implementing plans and developing high technology applied areas, zones.

- To contribute to implementation of objectives of programs on high technology applied agricultural development to 2020 which was approved by the Prime Minister on Decision No. 1895/QD-TTg dated December 17, 2012.
2.2. Orientation to 2030
- To complete construction of technical infrastructure and put into effective operation at least 10 high technology applied agricultural zones and hi-tech applied agricultural areas.
- To continue to select, establish several high technology applied agricultural zone which meets legal regulations.
- To expand scale and subjects of high technology applied agriculture production.

III. Major contents
1. High technology applied agricultural zones under the master plan must satisfy provisions of article 32 of law on high technology and following provisions:
1.1. High technology applied agricultural zone includes major functional areas:
- Administrative center;

- Area of application research, testing and demonstration models of high technology applied agricultural production;
- Area of training, transferring technology, demonstrating and introducing high technology applied agricultural products;
- Area of investing in producing high technology applied agricultural products;
- Waste treatment area.

1.2. Activities of high technology applied agricultural zones
- Activities of science and technology:
+ To participate in researching and developing high technology in field of agriculture on list of high technology given priority to development investment, performing tasks specified in points of a, b, c, d, clause 1 article 16 of law on high technology;
+ To research, apply, test, demonstrate model of high technology applied agricultural production;
+ To transfer high technology in field of agriculture.
- Activities of training high technology human resource:

+ To train and coach workers, technicians, managers on high-tech applications in agriculture;
+ To coordinate to train bachelors, engineers, masters and doctors in several specialties of biology, agriculture under list of high technologies given priorities to development investment.
- Activities of production and services;

+ To produce high technology applied agricultural products under list of high technology products which are encouraged development;

+ To organize fairs, exhibitions, demonstrations of high technology applied agricultural products;
+ To perform services of agricultural high technology consultant; services of supplying materials, equipment and product consumption;
+ To implement the people’s welfare services.
- To participate in activities of germinating agricultural high technology; germinating enterprises of high technology applications.
2. High technology applied agricultural regions

2.1. High technology applied agricultural region is region of concentrated agricultural production, applying high technology into agriculture to produce a product or several advantage agricultural commodities, ensuring yield, quality , high added value and friendly environment.

2.2. High technology applied agricultural regions under the master plan must meet provisions:

- To have appropriate natural conditions, under cultivated areas specializing in production one or several commodities as prescribed in the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1895/QD-TTg dated December 17, 2012; being in consistent with master plan on socio-economic development, industry development and product development of localities;

- Having relatively completed technical infrastructure on transportation, irrigation and electricity which are favorable for enterprises, farms, households to organize production of high technology applied agricultural products;

- Products manufactured in the region are advantages products of the region having high quality, high productivity and high economic efficiency;

- To have enterprises, cooperatives, cooperative groups, families and individuals participating in investing in production, organizing production and consumption of products under value chain.

3. Planning, building high technology applied agricultural areas
3.1. To 2020
- Planning high technology applied agricultural zone: beside two high technology applied agricultural zones of Hau Giang and Phu Yen which have been approved by the Prime Minister, continuing to plan and construct 8 high technology applied agricultural zones which have been decided to establish by People's Committee of centrally run provinces (high technology applied agricultural zone of Thai Nguyen in Thai Nguyen province, high technology applied agricultural zone of Quang Ninh in Quang Ninh province; Thanh Hoa high technology applied agricultural zone in Thanh Hoa province, Khanh Hoa high technology applied agricultural zone in Khanh Hoa province, high technology applied agricultural zone of Lam Dong in Thai Nguyen province, high technology applied agricultural zone of Ho Chi Minh city in Ho Chi Minh city; Binh Duong high technology applied agricultural zone in Binh Duong province, Can Tho high technology applied agricultural zone in Can Tho city).

- Planning high technology applied agricultural region:

+ Cultivation: high technology applied coffee production regions, focusing on Central Highland, northwestern and north Central; high technology applied tea production regions: concentrated green tea production region in Thai Nguyen, concentrated olong tea production area in Lam Dong; concentrated high technology applied dragon fruit production region in Binh Thuan province; high technology applied vegetable production areas in Lao Cai, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City, Lam Dong; high technology applied production areas in Lao Cai, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Lam Dong; concentrated high technology applied areas of producing key export fruit in southeast region and the Mekong river delta.

+ Husbandry: concentrated high technology applied dairy breeding region in Son La, Hanoi, Nghe An and Lam Dong; high technology applied foreign pig breeding regions, concentrating in Red river delta and southeast region; concentrated high technology applied poultry breeding regions in the Red river delta, northeast region, north Central and Mekong river delta region.

+ Aquaculture: high technology saltwater, brackish shrimp production areas, concentrating in Red river delta, north Central, south central coastal region, southeast region and Mekong river delta region.

3.2. Orientation to 2030
- High technology applied agricultural zones
+ To complete construction and put into effective use, operations 10 high technology applied agricultural zones which has been established under the master plan.

+ To research and plan high technology applied agricultural zones in provinces of Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Son La, Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Ngai, Dak Nong, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Tien Giang and other provinces.
+ To select to establish high technology applied agricultural zones which meet provisions of paragraph 1, section III, article 1 of this decision and article 33 of law on high technology at a national scale.

- High technology applied agricultural region
+ Cultivation: expanding scale of high technology applied objects in a period of 2015 - 2020 on a basis of being in consistent with master plans of socio-economic development, industry development, product developmnt of localities, balancing supply and demand; supplementing production areas some key high technology applied products such as pepper, fruit trees, medicinal plants ...

+ Husbandry: expanding scale of high technology applied objects stage in a period of 2015 - 2020 on basis of being consistent with master plan on socio-economic development, industry development, product development of localities, balancing supply and demand.
+ Aquaculture: expanding scale of high technology applied objects in a period of 2015 - 2020 on a basis of being in consistent with master plans of socio-economic development, industry development, product development of localities, balancing supply and demand; supplementing production areas some key high technology applied products such as catfish, cold water fish, krill.

4. A list of high technology applied zones, destinations, scales, fields to 2020, orientation of researching plan to 2030 are outlined details in the appendix attached to this decision.
Reviewing, adjusting and supplementing list of high technology applied agricultural zones will be based on clause 1, section III, article 1 of this decision and article 33 of the law on high technology.
IV. Solutions
1. Completing legal document on managing high technology applied zones and regions.

2. Land using plan
- Local authorities in the plan: arranging land for building high technology applied agricultural zones as defined in paragraph 1 and paragraph 5 of article 33 of law on high technology.

- To develop plan of high technology applied agricultural zones and high technology applied agricultural regions, taking advantage of products and regional advantages, improving efficiency of land use.
3. Human resources and use of human resources
- To development full of human resources in quantity and quality to perform tasks of developing high technology applied agricultural zones and high technology applied agricultural regions.
- To adopt policies to attract and use high technology human resources as defined in article 29 of law on high technology.
4. Capital source for investing in implementation of the plan
- To diversify capital source for investing in implementing the plan, building high technology applied agricultural zones and high technology applied agricultural regions.
- Funds from the State budget supporting construction of technical infrastructure of high technology applied agricultural zones as defined in paragraph 3 article 33 of law on high technology; supporting construction of agricultural infrastructure of high technology applied agricultural regions as stipulated in the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1895/QD-TTg dated December 17, 2012; encouraging socialization and attract foreign investment.

- To encourage organizations, individuals and enterprises to invest in constructing units of applied research, training, production and services in high technology applied agricultural zones and investing in production, services in high technology applied agricultural regions.
- Other capital sources as prescribed.
5. Science and technology

- To implement activities of create and develop high technology in agriculture field, high-tech applications in agriculture field as defined in paragraph 1, clause 2, section II of article 1 of the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1895/QD-TTg dated December 17, 2012 on development of high technology applied agricultural zones and regions.
- To continue to implement construction and application of a system of standards, technical regulations in managing quality of agricultural products, sustainable environment of high technology applied agricultural zones and high technology applied agricultural regions.

- To continue to implement efficiently and sustainably scientific and technological activities for development of high technology applied agricultural zones and high technology applied agricultural regions, manufacturing agricultural products which have high quality, outstanding features , high added value, friendly environment and ensure public health.

- Science and technology activities for development of high technology applied agricultural zones and high technology applied agricultural regions enjoy incentive mechanisms and policies on investment capital mobilization, incentive credit policies under current regulations.
6. International cooperation
To strengthen international cooperation in research, application, development and import of high technology in agriculture field and attraction of investment capital; training of personnel, exchange of experts; organizing seminars, fairs to introduce high technology in agriculture field and high technology applied agricultural products.
7. Mechanisms and policies

7.1. Preferential policies on land as stipulated in paragraph 2 of article 33 of law on high technology and legal documents on land.
7.2. Policies on supporting investment in constructing infrastructure of high technology applied agricultural zones and high technology applied agricultural regions under the master plan.

- For high technology applied agricultural zone which are decided to establish by the Prime Minister: basing on specific conditions, the State budget supports below 70% of capital source of investing in constructing infrastructure of the zones (infrastructure of information technology, transport, electricity, water, managing offices, waste treatment systems).

- For high technology applied agricultural regions: basing on specific conditions, the State budget will be used for investing in constructing infrastructure of the regions (transport systems, irrigation systems, waste treatment system) under approved projects.

7.3. Enterprises operating in high technology applied agricultural zones enjoy the highest preferential level of corporate income tax, added value tax, export tax, import tax and other incentives for high technology applied agricultural enterprises as defined in paragraph 2, article 19 of law on high technology.
7.4. Policies on supporting development of human resources, market development and application of science and technology

- To support human resources training, market development and application of science and technology for organizations and individuals those have projects of investing in construction of high technology applied agricultural zones and regions as defined in article 9 the Government’s decree No. 210/2013/ND-CP dated December 19, 2013 and current legal regulation.

- To prioritize deployment of task of creating and developing high technology, high-tech applications in field of ​​agriculture in high technology applied agricultural zones and high technology applied agricultural regions.
- To support transfer of science and technology for development of high technology applied agriculture.
7.5. Supporting forms of cooperation, linkage of organizing production associating with processing and consumption of products between producers, farmers, cooperatives, cooperative groups with enterprises to increase production capacity, competitiveness of high technology applied agricultural products under current regulations.
7.6. Supporting construction and advertisement of trademark of high technology applied agricultural zones and high technology applied agricultural regions.
V. Organizing implementation
1. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

- To function as the main implementer, in collaboration with related ministries, agencies to appraise scheme of establishing high technology applied agricultural zones to submit for the Prime Minister for consideration and approval.
- To function as the main implementer to draw up and submit the Prime Minister for approving decision on stipulating criteria, competence, order and procedures for recognizing high technology applied agricultural regions.
- To function as the main implementer, in collaboration with related ministries and agencies, People's Committees of centrally run provinces and cities to guide and supervise implementation of master plan on high technology applied zones and regions to 2020, vision to 2030; reporting annually to the Prime Minister.
- To function as the main implementer, in collaboration with related ministries and agencies to adjust and supplement master plan on high technology applied agricultural zones and regions, proposing with related ministries, agencies and localities to submit the Prime Minister for consideration and decision.
2. Ministry of Planning and Investment

- To function as the main implementer and in collaboration with Ministry of Finance and related ministries, agencies to instruct, synthesize, balance development investment capital source, verifying and supporting localities to build high tech applied agricultural zones and high technology applied agricultural regions under the master plan, monitoring and evaluating effectiveness of using investment capital source from the State budget.
- To function as the main implementer and in collaboration with related agencies to propose models and management mechanisms for high technology applied agricultural zones.

3. Ministry of Finance

- To implement monitoring, inspection and evaluation of financial support for constructing high technology applied agricultural zones and regions.
- To coordinate with Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to guide implementation of the master plan on developing high technology applied agricultural zones and regions.
4. Ministry of Science and Technology:

- To function as the main implementer, in collaboration with related ministries, ministerial-level agencies to build databases, information infrastructure of high technology in general and develop high technology applied agriculture in particular;
- To coordinate with the People's Committees of centrally run provinces and cities to organize, participate in markets, fairs and exhibitions of high technology applied agricultural products.
5. Ministry of Construction shall function as the main implementer, in collaboration with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, relevant competent authorities to evaluate tasks and draft of master plan on building high technology applied agricultural zone under current legal regulations.
6. The State Bank of Vietnam shall function as the main implementer, in collaboration with Ministry of Finance and other related agencies to develop mechanisms, policies and arrange credits, loan guarantees, interest rate support to implement the plan as prescribed.
7. People's Committees of centrally run provinces and cities basing on the master plan:
- To arrange land for constructing high technology applied agricultural zones as defined in paragraph 1 and paragraph 5 of article 33 of law on high technology;
- To develop a draft on establishment of high technology applied agricultural zone to send to Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for organizing appraisal and submit Prime Minister for approval;

- To proactively encourage enterprises to build high technology applied agricultural zones and high technology applied agricultural regions which are suitable with specific conditions of localities;
- To approve overall plan on high technology applied agricultural regions which have been recognized by competent authorities in localities;

- To function as the main implementer, in collaboration with related ministries, agencies to organize activities of promoting investment in high technology applied agricultural zones and high technology applied agricultural regions;
- To function as the main implementer, in collaboration with related ministries, agencies, localities to organize fairs and exhibitions of high technology in agriculture and high technology applied agricultural products;

- To organize deployment of contents of investing in construction and development of high technology applied agricultural zones and high technology applied agricultural production regions, annually reporting to Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, related ministries to synthesize and report to the Prime Minister;
- To integrate construction of high technology applied agricultural zones and high technology applied agricultural regions with task of development of industries, localities, national target programs, socio-economic development programs;

- To base on specific conditions of localities, promulgating other preferential policies for high technology applied agricultural zones and high technology applied agricultural regions which are built in localities;
- To propose legal documents which need to be amended and supplemented to implement efficiently and sustainably high technology applied agricultural zones and high technology applied agricultural regions.

L.Giang
Source: moj.gov.vn