Specialized policies to attract investment in high-tech agricultural zones

On the morning of April 7, in Hanoi, Deputy Minister Hoang Trung chaired a meeting to review the draft Decree on high-tech agricultural zones. This document is expected to provide a significant breakthrough for modern agricultural development amidst digital transformation and the green economy.

Building a legal foundation for high-tech agricultural development

Mr. Nguyen Nhu Cuong, Deputy Director General of the Department of Science and Technology and representative of the drafting committee, stated that the draft Decree aims to refine the legal framework for the development of high-tech agricultural zones. This initiative seeks to promote modern agriculture while enhancing productivity, quality, and added value in the context of digital transformation and green economic growth.

The draft provides a comprehensive framework for the principles of organization, establishment, management, and operation of high-tech agricultural zones. Its primary focus is the formation of specialized centers for research, testing, demonstration, and the transfer of advanced technologies, contributing to sectoral restructuring toward efficiency and sustainability. These zones are designated as concentrated spaces for scientific research, the application of new technologies, large-scale production, human resource training, and support for innovative startups within the agricultural sector.

To ensure feasibility, the draft outlines specific criteria for planning, land scale, technological orientation, technical infrastructure, and operational management plans upon establishment. It clearly defines decision-making authorities, organizational management models, and coordination mechanisms among ministries, sectors, and local authorities to ensure unified implementation. The roles of enterprises, research institutes, universities, and cooperatives are also explicitly identified throughout the entire chain, from research and production to the commercialization of high-tech products.

Notably, the draft proposes a synchronized system of preferential policies, covering land use, infrastructure investment, taxation, credit, science and technology, and human resource training, to attract corporate participation. The State will prioritize technical infrastructure development, promote value chain linkages, and foster digital transformation and smart agriculture.

Furthermore, mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating operational performance have been added, along with regulations on management responsibility, inspection, and handling of violations. These measures aim to ensure the efficient use of land resources and public investment while enhancing the overall effectiveness of high-tech agricultural zones nationwide.

Unblocking institutional bottlenecks, paving the way for investment

During the meeting, many participants agreed that the most prominent issue at present is the feasibility of policies, with the ability to attract investment remaining a major "bottleneck" that needs to be addressed.

Representatives from local authorities, including Hanoi, pointed out that recent implementation shows that many high-tech agricultural zones were planned or even established early on, yet their development remains slow. The primary cause does not lie in the orientation or objectives, but rather in the fact that existing mechanisms are not sufficiently attractive to mobilize social resources, particularly for infrastructure investment.

One of the core bottlenecks is the lack of breakthrough land policies. Compared to high-tech parks, where flexible mechanisms such as land allocation without auction can be applied in certain cases, high-tech agricultural zones still lack similar tools to reduce costs and risks for investors. This limitation prevents other incentives, such as tax or credit, from reaching their full potential.

Additionally, delegates emphasized the need to diversify sources of investment rather than relying primarily on the state budget. Models such as Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT), and various forms of socialized infrastructure investment should be incorporated into the draft Decree to create flexible mechanisms and enhance their attractiveness to enterprises.

Beyond the capital puzzle, operational efficiency and the ability to scale technology were also raised. Many argued that if high-tech agricultural zones focus solely on research and demonstration without mechanisms to connect with external production regions, their value will remain limited. Therefore, policies to promote regional linkages are essential to ensure that technology is effectively transferred and replicated in practice.

From a management perspective, representatives from the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Home Affairs proposed that the drafting committee clarify the Management Board model, especially for large-scale, inter-regional zones. An inflexible administrative mechanism would become a direct barrier to investment progress and efficiency.

In his concluding remarks, Deputy Minister Hoang Trung emphasized the need to refine the draft Decree for clarity, feasibility, and institutional breakthroughs, particularly in land, investment, and implementation policies. According to the Deputy Minister, only by solving the resource puzzle and minimizing risks to investors can high-tech agricultural zones fulfill their role as innovation hubs that lead modern agricultural development.

The Deputy Minister also noted the need to clarify that these zones are centers for research, testing, and technology transfer, and to avoid overlap with the standard high-tech park model. Clearly defining these functions will not only unify policy application but also enhance practical implementation.

“The draft Decree has outlined a fairly comprehensive policy framework. However, to bring it to life, it is crucial to shift from a management mindset to a development-enabling mindset. In this, the State plays the role of designing institutional frameworks strong enough to attract investment, trigger innovation, and create momentum for Vietnamese agriculture to transform toward a modern, green, and sustainable direction,” Deputy Minister Hoang Trung underscored.