Awarding the Medal of S&T Cause for Ms. Keiko Sato

During the S&T development process, Viet Nam has always been received precious support from multi-lateral partners, including WB. With the approval of the Project on Fostering Innovation through Research, Science and Technology (FIRST) funded by WB, this is the first time in the history of receiving and implementing the Official Development Assistance (ODA), our country’s S&T branch in general and MOST in particular has been assigned as the investor and chair of the multi-lateral ODA project.

Objectives of FIRST are to support the S&T development and foster technology innovation through formulating and implementing some new policies which contribute to improve the national policy framework on promoting S&T development; improving capacities of public S&T organizations towards directions of linking actively and closely with demands of markets and businesses; promoting technology innovation in businesses, establishment and development of S&T enterprises. The project has been actively implemented as scheduled and would promisingly achieve results as designed.

In order to achieve the Project’s current results, in addition to efforts made by relevant domestic partners, it should take into account fully responsible contributions and thorough sympathy for Viet Nam’s S&T of Ms. Keiko Sato, Director in charge of Investment Project Portfolio of WB in Viet Nam and of programs in Viet Nam. Important contributions of Ms. Keiko Sato herself have been showed not only in the process of formulating, developing, negotiating and approving the Project but also recognized her monitoring, supervision, discussion and initiatives to solve issues, create favorable conditions for the Project to be implemented as scheduled and of good quality.

In order to recognize her contribution and deep sentiments with FIRST in particular and our country’s S&T branch in general, Minister of Science and Technology made the Decision on awarding the Medal for S&T Cause to Ms. Keiko Sato before she leaves WB in Viet Nam for her new position.

Delivering a speech in the Ceremony, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyễn Quân affirmed that we have highly appreciated contributions made by WB as well as those of Ms. Keiko herself for Viet Nam’s KH&CN, especially after FIRST has been supported by WB and by WB’s leaders and the project has been implemented with initial success. The Medal for S&T Cause is the award to recognize precious contributions and support of Vietnamese individuals and foreigners for the S&T development cause.

On behalf of MOST, the Minister expressed his sincere thanks for Ms. Keiko Sato for her contributions to FIRST and MOST and wished in her new period and new position, she would continue to have good sentiments for Viet Nam and contributions to MOST. Ms. Keiko Sato expressed her thanks to MOST for its Medal for S&T Cause. She emphasized that the world has changed very fast and competitions are more serious, we hope that through FIRST polies would be implemented to improve Viet Name’s competitiveness. By 2035, Viet Nam’s S&T would take an important role in the world. For the coming time, she would return and work in Viet Nam. Ms. Keiko Sato hoped that with her new positions, she would continue her support to MOST for the FIRST implementation in order to improve Viet Nam’s competitiveness.

The award of the Medal for S&T Cause for Ms. Keiko Sato this time showed MOST’s sincere thanks and high appreciate to her as well as staff of WB in Viet Nam for their cooperation and support of Viet Nam’s S&T for the time being./.