The Da Nang authorities recently granted an investment licence to the first nano-technology and biotech project in the city.

Illustrative image. (Photo: VNA)

Developed by the city's Pharmaceutical joint-stock company (Danapha), the project is the third in the 1,010-ha Hi-Tech Industrial Park (IP) in Hoa Vang District.

Danapha will cooperate with two Japanese companies: Tokyo Keiki Precision Technology Inc, and Niwa Foundry, to implement its 62 million USD project.

As scheduled, Danapha will spend 1.5 trillion VND (67 million USD) on building a complex dedicated to Nano Technology/Bio Technology, and a hi-tech research and development centre. The project will be built on an area of 7.7ha in 3 stages between 2017 and 2021.

The complex will produce 1 billion tablets and 100 million units of injectable drugs per year in 2017 and 2018.

Danapha also started the construction of an Asian alternative medicine production factory in the Hoa Khanh IP in 2009.  Danapha's first plant meets GMP-WHO (good manufacturing practices as recommended by the World Health Organisation) standards.

Danapha, listed on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange as DNP, is one of Da Nang's few businesess to invest in technological research and production.

The company has completed the research into a nanotechnology-based cancer injection that may help to provide cheaper cancer treatments for patients in the central region.

According to the latest reports, Da Nang has attracted 423 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects totalling 3.68 billion USD to date.

FDI enterprises earned revenue of 776 million USD.  Of this, 522 million USD were from exports.  These enterprises contributed 112 million USD to the state budget in 2015.

(Source: VNA/DA NANG Today)