National Assembly Chairman: Prevent the purchase of outdated machinery and equipment into our country

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan emphasized that the Law on Technology Transfer must be enacted to prevent the introduction of outdated and polluting technology and equipment into our country.

This issue was raised during the discussion on several major issues of the draft Law on Technology Transfer (amended) at the 8th session of the National Assembly Standing Committee this morning (March 16).

Presenting the report on explanation and acceptance, Mr. Phan Xuan Dung - Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment said that there are opinions that in recent times, the management of imported technology into our country has not been strict, the lack of coordination has led to the situation of many outdated technologies and equipment, negatively affecting the competitiveness of the economy, causing environmental pollution. Therefore, the law needs to regulate the technology appraisal of investment projects as well as attaching the responsibilities of relevant agencies.

Director Phan Xuan Dung: "We buy machinery and equipment that is mostly 2-3 generations outdated."

Emphasizing that technology transfer is a very important issue because a country's position is closely linked to its technological level, Mr. Phan Xuan Dung said that some industries and fields still use outdated technology; we still transfer technology through purchasing machinery and equipment, most of which are 2-3 generations outdated, without accompanying solutions, processes, technical know-how...

“Therefore, it is necessary to have solutions to assess and control the flow of imported technology into our country to prevent old technology, outdated technology, technology that pollutes the environment, technology that has negative impacts on human health, while not affecting Vietnam's investment and business environment and the requirements of administrative reform” – the Chairman of the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment emphasized.

From that perspective, the Draft Law has supplemented and revised regulations on technologies encouraged for transfer, technologies restricted for transfer and technologies prohibited for transfer. The Draft assigns the Government to issue specific lists of these lists based on actual situations.

At the same time, the bill clearly stipulates: "Investment projects using technology on the List of restricted technology transfers and Investment projects with the risk of negative impacts on the environment using technology" are investment projects that must undergo technology appraisal.

Accordingly, the technology appraisal results are mandatory content in the investment project appraisal report before submitting to the competent authority for consideration and decision on the investment policy.

The draft also supplements clear and specific regulations on the responsibilities of relevant agencies in technology appraisal of investment projects and the authority to appraise technology of investment projects... In addition, the inspection and supervision of technology in investment projects are also specifically regulated..

Commenting on the draft law, Chairman of the Nationalities Council Ha Ngoc Chien said that the regulations on technology transfer restrictions are not strict and somewhat contradict the State's policy on technology transfer.

“If it is written as restricted, then to what extent is it restricted? Restriction means that importation is still allowed and thus contradicts the policy, creating loopholes for the transfer of outdated technology that causes environmental damage into our country” – Mr. Chien wondered and expressed his opinion that we should only regulate what is allowed to be transferred and what is prohibited from being transferred, but if we regulate transfer restrictions, there will be loopholes.

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. Photo: Quochoi.vn

Highly appreciating the report explaining and accepting the draft law, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan emphasized that the Law on Technology Transfer must be enacted to prevent the introduction of outdated and polluting technology and equipment into our country.

“The reception of delegates’ opinions was very comprehensive, from regulations on which types of projects must have technology appraisal to the responsibility of state management agencies in appraisal as well as post-inspection. If you introduce polluting technology in the future, agencies and individuals must take responsibility,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

Regarding this content, in the conclusion, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Phung Quoc Hien requested the drafting committee and the review agency to continue reviewing and researching regulations on transfer restrictions.

“What is the limitation? As some people say, who knows, what people throw away can still be used well in our country? Therefore, it is necessary to review the technology transfer restriction to avoid consequences” – the Vice Chairman of the National Assembly emphasized./.

According to VOV