Viet Nam defines India as a strategic partner in its international biotechnology research and development cooperation, which is considered crucial to green industry and sustainable development, said Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh.

The minister made the statement on February 27 at an international conference held in Ha Noi with the participation of scientists from technology research and development institutes in both Viet Nam and India.

The Government of Viet Nam considers biotechnology as one of the four prioritized science and technology–related areas in the country’s socio-economic development strategy, said Anh.

The minister added that the conference will serve as a forum for the two countries’ scientists to swap views on future cooperation in the field.

Participants agreed that Viet Nam and India share similarities in their agriculture-based economy. Therefore, biotechnology will play an important role in the development of both countries’ “green industry”.

At the two-day event they also discussed concrete measures to foster biotechnology development in the two countries, especially in agriculture, health, food and the environment.