A 23ha biotechnology centre will be built in Ho Chi Minh City in the 2006-10 period as a place for research and application of genetic technology in production, especially vaccines and pharma-biological products.

Dr Duong Hoa Xo, the centre's director, said that the facility will conduct basic, applied research of scientific themes related to biotechnology serving agriculture, health and the environment.

The centre will receive and transfer, as well as provide, consulting services related to modern biotechnology to produce biological products, train human resources and commercialise products related to biotechnology.

It is scheduled that the first phase of construction will be complete in 2008 and the second phase will finish in 2010.

Staff training for the centre has already begun with many already selected for training abroad. According to Dr Xo, the centre needs at least 200 people to meet development needs by 2010.