Two billion dollars to develop Vietnam space technology

The Vietnam Institute of Science and Technology is coordinating a number of related ministries, urgently completing the 9th draft of the Vietnam Space Technology Strategy for the period 2006-2020.

The total budget for implementing this strategy - which the Prime Minister has assigned to the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology to preside over implementation since 2003 - is estimated at about US $ 2 billion.

The draft strategy sets out the key tasks for the development of Vietnam's space technology by 2020 such as training of personnel and deployment of scientific research and technology transfer activities; established the National Space Technology Committee; building the Institute of Space Technology under the Vietnam Institute of Science and Technology.

An expert from the Vietnam Institute of Science and Technology said that with current economic, infrastructure and scientific-technological conditions, the strategy only mentioned some specific projects that could be carried out. It is possible in the next few years such as: launch VINASAT telecommunications satellite (approved by the government with the plan in 2008 to launch into orbit, with a total budget of VND 2,858 billion), launch satellite remote sensing (projected) approved by early 2006).