An ASEAN 2020 startups forum focusing on new opportunities in the digital age was jointly organised by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) in Hanoi on October 16.
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In his opening speech, VCCI Chairman Vu Tien Loc, who is also Head of the National Start-up Programme Steering Committee, said the forum aims to form an ASEAN startup network, towards building ASEAN into a creative startup hub of Asia and the world.
It is the time to share experience and enhance cooperation in building a startup ecosystem of ASEAN, and an ASEAN brand of innovative startups, he noted, adding the forum targets discussing ways to promote transparent and sustainable development, and share good practices and digital transformation platforms.
Caitlin Wiesen, Resident Representative of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam, emphasised the important role of ASEAN startup enterprises for inclusive and sustainable development.
The region is one of the areas having the highest youth startup rates globally, and 40 percent of these startups are creating jobs, she said.
Pham Dung Nam, director of the project on supporting the national startup and innovation ecosystem until 2025 implemented by the Ministry of Science and Technology, said that it is necessary to consider the possibility of establishing and operating a digital online platform with high interaction to connect national startup ecosystems of the 10 ASEAN member economies, thus making startups a motivation to boost economic growth .
He also emphasised the importance to enhance cooperation and information sharing, and set up partnership among relevant parties in the ASEAN startup ecosystem, as well as the possibility of mobilising resources to form venture capital funds or financial assistance programmes for startups enterprises from the ASEAN member countries./.
VNA
