FPT and McKinsey cooperate in planning Binh Dinh province

Binh Dinh, May 7, 2021- the People's Committee of Binh Dinh and McKinsey & Company Vietnam have signed an agreement with FPT on planning Binh Dinh province for the period of 2021 - 2030, a vision that expands to 2050, with the aim of turning Binh Dinh to an economic center of the Central Coast region and a leading AI center in the region.

Planning for Binh Dinh province for the period 2021 - 2030 with a vision to 2050 is one of the central tasks to realize the vision and goals of socio-economic development, and to improve the quality of life for the people and contribute to the overall development of the province. The tripartite cooperation is an affirmation of the importance and determination of the leaders in an effort to build and develop a sustainable Binh Dinh.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Ho Quoc Dung, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of Binh Dinh province emphasized., “The planning should provide specific solutions and projects to create a breakthrough development for the province and must be realistic and within the boundaries of its strengths”.

Mr. Truong Gia Binh, the Chairman of FPT said, “We have a great desire to bring Binh Dinh to become the leading artificial intelligence (AI) center in the region, a scientific center for testing the latest technologies in the world. And to realize that great aspiration, we require clear goals, deep planning and the best human resources. This Plan is the start of that aspiration”.

With diverse and extensive experience in consulting the formulations of socio-economic development plans for provinces and cities of Vietnam and a deep understanding of Vietnamese culture and people, together with the presence and experience on a global scale, McKinsey and FPT wish to accompany Binh Dinh province in the long term throughout the process of socio-economic construction and development of the province. At the same time, the two sides are also ready to support the province to identify, evoke breakthrough development opportunities that are pioneering and leading; applying smart, efficient and fast technology in deployment, providing immediate results.

As one of the five provinces of the Central Key Economic Region, Binh Dinh has many potentials and advantages for attracting investment and developing socio-economic. Not only convenient in regional and international exchanges, with great potential for tourism development and a high population rate of 56% within the working age, Binh Dinh is also capable of providing abundant human resources of high quality for investors in many different fields. At the same time, Binh Dinh has a very open and welcoming set of policies responsible for investment attraction.

Along with the support in planning, FPT also proposed to accompany the province in developing the IT human resources in general and AI in particular. An FPT University branch was opened in Binh Dinh to train all levels of university and postgraduate, provide educational support services and scientific research, to meet the needs of 5,200 students. In 2021, the Quy Nhon branch of FPT University is expected to enroll 300 students in the following majors: Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Fine Design, Digital Marketing, International Business. FPT also awarded 10 full scholarships for AI training to 12th grade students, both domestic and international, to continue studying from undergraduate to doctorate.

Previously, FPT also signed a cooperation agreement with the world's leading AI research institute - Mila within 3-year period (2020-2023). One of the important goals of this cooperation is for two sides to build and develop the world's leading AI Research Center in Quy Nhon based on the consultation and extensive experience of Mila. This FPT Artificial Intelligence Center has an area of about 94 hectares with a total investment of more than 4,362 billion VND. Not wanting to stop there, the project also includes other constructions such as: Center for technology research and development, artificial intelligence (AI) specialty, software product manufacturing facility and other ancillary works.