THE AFOB-REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM

February 9^th – 11^th, 2012

University of Science – Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

OPENING REMARK

Distinguished guests,

Dear AFOB delegates,

Dear colleagues,

Ladies and gentlemen,

On behalf of members of the Vietnam Branch of the Asian Federation of Biotechnology (AFOB), I am pleased to warmly welcome you all to the Third AFOB Regional Symposium to be held on February 10, 2012, at the University of Science, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Following its successful two regional symposiums in Nepal and in Mongolia in January and August 2011, respectively, the AFOB Executive Board has decided to organize this third regional symposium in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam. The Biotechnology Center of Ho Chi Minh City and The University of Science, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City has the great honor to be the local institutions to cooperate with the AFOB Central Office in organizing this exciting event.

At the academic sections of this symposium, we will have the opportunity to exchange ideas and research results in biotechnology research and development through 14 oral and 56 poster presentations provided by 85 delegates and participants from 45 academic institutions, societies, corporations from 9 AFOB member countries. We also have chances to make friends and to share experiences in advancing biotechnology development through the symposium social activities organized from Feb 9 to 11. I do hope this symposium will provide a good forum for the promotion of academic exchanges and friendship among our AFOB member countries.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all delegates and participants for your warmly supports and participations, which essentially contribute to the richness in academic content as well as to the successful achievement of the objectives of AFOB regional symposium.

I would like to extend my acknowledgements to the Department of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City for its warm support to organize this symposium. I would also warmly thank all members of the symposium steering committee, scientific committee, symposium secretariat, officers and staff of the AFOB Central Office as well as the two local organizers for their energetic efforts in the preparation and operation of the symposium.

I would like express our sincere gratitude to the AFOB Executive Board for selecting Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in organizing this third regional symposium. For foreign delegates and participants, I wish you a good and memorable staying in Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam.

Thank you again for your participation in this Third AFOB Regional Symposium and warmly welcome to Vietnam. Please allow me to open the Third AFOB Regional Symposium, 2012.

Thank you.

Tran Linh Thuoc

Vice President of University of Science - VNUHCM

Vice President of AFOB

Organized by:

Asian Federation of Biotechnology (AFOB)

Biotechnology Center of Ho Chi Minh City

University of Science – Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City

Steering Committee:

Prof. Tran Linh Thuoc (Vice President, University of Science – Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City),

Dr. Duong Hoa Xo (Director, Biotechnology Center of Ho Chi Minh City)

Prof. Toshiomi Yoshida (President of AFOB),

Prof. Park Jung-Keuk (Vice President, Dongguk University),

Prof. Tae-Joon Jeon (Program Director, Department of Biological Engineering, Inha

University)

Scientific Committee:

Prof. Tran Linh Thuoc (Vice President, University of Science – Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City),

Dr. Duong Hoa Xo (Director, Biotechnology Center of Ho Chi Minh City)

Dr. Nguyen Quoc Binh (Vice Director, Biotechnology Center of Ho Chi Minh City),

Prof. Tae-Joon Jeon (Program Director, Department of Biological Engineering, Inha

University),

Prof. Park Jung-Keuk (Vice President, Dongguk University)

Symposium Secretariat:

Dr. Nguyen Dang Quan (Head of Medical Biotech Division, Biotechnology Center of Ho Chi Minh City)

Dr. Tran Van Hieu (Biology Department, University of Science – Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City)

MSc. Nguyen Phuoc Cam Anh (Medical Biotech Division, Biotechnology Center of Ho Chi Minh City)

Ms. Hyo Eun Kim  (AFOB, Central Office)