The government has just issued a Directive on focusing on the development and effective application of biotechnology as an important economic and technical sector serving the cause of national construction and defense. The Directive clearly states that, in order to overcome existing shortcomings and limitations, and to create strong and substantive changes in the development and application of biotechnology and the development of the biotechnology industry into an important economic and technical sector, contributing to the achievement of the goals by 2030 and the vision to 2045 as outlined in Resolution 36 of the Politburo, the government requires ministries, sectors, and localities to strengthen leadership and guidance, emphasize the responsibility of heads of departments; and to synchronously and decisively implement the tasks and solutions for the development of biotechnology according to their assigned functions and duties as stipulated in Resolution 36 of the Politburo and Resolution 189 of the Government.

Simultaneously, urgently review all assigned tasks under Government Resolution 189 to ensure they are consistent with the practical conditions after the merger of ministries, sectors, and localities, as well as with existing and effective laws and decrees. Review and urgently complete tasks that are behind schedule, and report the results to the Government by May 2025. Periodically review, evaluate, and publicly disclose implementation results; promptly commend collectives and individuals who perform well; and strictly handle cases of delayed implementation or failure to complete tasks. The results of biotechnology development tasks will be one of the criteria for evaluating the performance of ministries, sectors, localities, and their leaders.

The development of biotechnology must be placed within the overall implementation of Resolution 57 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in national science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation; prioritizing state resources for research, application, and development of core technologies, strategic technologies, and key national products in the field of biotechnology, tasks with the potential to create breakthroughs and significant spillover effects; tasks serving national defense and security; strongly encouraging private sector investment in the biotechnology industry; developing biotechnology in the fields of agriculture, environment, and industry and trade into economic and technical sectors.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade is responsible for approving and implementing the Project to develop the biotechnology industry into an economic and technical sector within its authority, ensuring compliance with the Party's guidelines and relevant State laws. It promotes the formation and development of a biotechnology value chain from research, production, and commercialization, linked to the biotechnology enterprise ecosystem; encourages large enterprises to invest in technological innovation, master core and strategic technologies in the biotechnology sector, and develop high value-added products. It supports product trademark registration, market development, and export expansion for biotechnology-based products in the industry sector that possess a competitive advantage for Vietnam.

The government has instructed the Ministry of Health to accelerate the development of the biotechnology industry in the healthcare sector; expedite the roadmap for technological self-reliance in the production of next-generation vaccines, biological drugs, medical biological products, gene technology, cell technology, personalized 3D printing technology, etc., in order to reduce dependence on foreign imports. Research, transfer, and gradual self-reliance in the application of advanced technologies, along with expanded international cooperation, are aimed at improving the capacity for disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, as well as the technology of medical biological products. Investment is also required to enhance the capacity for testing, quality management of medical biological products, and ensuring biosafety.

The Ministry of Education and Training is innovating training programs and developing high-quality human resources in the field of biotechnology. This includes linking training with business needs, developing a substantive and effective "Three-Party" cooperation model (State - University - Enterprise), strengthening international cooperation in training experts and scientists, and promoting programs to support the exchange of postgraduate students and scientists in the field of biotechnology.

The Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Public Security are stepping up research, development, and application of specialized biotechnology products to serve national defence and biosecurity in the new context. They are proactively enhancing the capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to terrorist acts using biological agents and biological warfare; strengthening the capacity to combat biodiversity crimes, meeting the requirements of national defense, ensuring national security, and maintaining social order and safety.