By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young

Goyang Special City Mayor Lee Dong-hwan, who is visiting Vietnam, signed business agreements with the Vietnam Agricultural Trade Promotion Center and the Mekong Research Institute for Science, Technology, Education and Application on April 15, and visited the Vietnam National Innovation Center (NIC) and the Vin University to solidify cooperation.
 

"I hope that we can establish a win-win cooperation system that will open up opportunities for Goyang companies to enter Vietnam in the future, and for Vietnamese companies to establish themselves in the free economic zones that will be established in Goyang," said Mayor Lee, who visited the NIC on the morning of the 15th.

Vietnam's National Innovation Center (NIC) is an agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment that supports and fosters startups and new growth engine companies.

The meeting was attended by Do Tien Thinh, deputy director of the NIC, and a number of executives, including the head of the Human Resources Development and Enterprise Support Department.

The mayor then visited the Vietnam Agriculture and Trade Promotion Center, where he met with Nguyễn Minh Tiến, director, and Nguyễn Thị Thuý Phượng, director of the Mekong Research Institute for Science, Technology, Education and Application, to sign a business agreement to expand the agriculture and agro-food industry.

"With this agreement as a starting point, we look forward to further cooperation between Goyang City and Vietnam, as well as green growth and renewable energy," said Mayor Lee.

Representative Nguyen Minh Thien and Director Nguyen Thi Thuy Phuong echoed the sentiment, saying, "We will expand cooperation and exchanges in various fields with Goyang City, which has strengths and experience."

The Agricultural Trade Promotion Center, an agency under Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, conducts agricultural trade promotion training, overseas market research, technology transfer, and agricultural product brand development. 

The Mekong Research Institute for Science and Technology Education and Application is also responsible for projects centered on human resource development in science and technology, including biotechnology.

Mayor Lee also introduced the Goyang Free Economic Zone and Goyang's tourism infrastructure, and discussed mutual cooperation in establishing schools and fostering global talent.

"Securing talent is important for the final designation of the Goyang Free Economic Zone and attracting global high-tech companies," said Mayor Lee, who toured the Vin University campus and startup lab. "I hope that we can exchange talented people with Vin University and eventually attract a global campus of Vin University to our city."

In response, David Bangsberg, Dean of Vin University, expressed his willingness to cooperate, saying, "We hope to establish a cooperative relationship with Goyang City and move forward together with the goal of fostering global creative talent."

Vin University was founded in 2020 by Vin Group, the largest private group in Vietnam, and has established strategic partnerships with Cornell University and the University of Pennsylvania to cultivate future talent. Within two years of its establishment, the university has received top ratings in seven categories, including internationalization, teaching, facilities, and academics.