HCM City (VNA) - Young entrepreneurs and leaders from the ASEAN membernations and those from the Republic of Korea (RoK), Japan and China - the dialogue partnercountries of the group, joined a discussion on experience, opportunities andchallenges in hi-tech agriculture startups.
Held in Ho ChiMinh City on December 15 as part of activities of the ASEAN Plus 3 Young EntrepreneursForum, the event focused on creative startups models in term of hi-techagriculture.
Kevin San Miguel Cuevas, the founder and CEO of Tahan.PH of the Philippinessaid his firm is working to help tourists understand more about his country’s cultureand cuisine.
Tours enable tourists to visit plantations of specific fruits and vegetables ofthe Philippines, while enjoying and buying high-quality agricultural productsprocessed with modern technology, he noted.
Meanwhile, representatives from Thailand shared information related to astartup model with rubber-made pillow products and mattresses covered by traditionalbrocades.
Vietnamese representative Pham Thi Thu Van introduced a startup model with BenTre coconut products, saying that with CocoSmile brand, Ben Tre coconut areexported to Singapore, Japan, the RoK and the US.
Van said she is very surprised with effective startup models of youngentrepreneurs at the event, adding that through the event, she learns fromregional friends about how to market products and access new markets.
Tan Sijie Darren from Singapore said that innovative startups in hi-techagriculture are an optimal solution to solving problems facing the ASEANcountries such as climate change, population growth, and rapid urbanization.
The creativity, cooperation and experience sharing of youths and young entrepreneursat the event will help develop high-quality food in each country as well as in theASEAN Plus 3 community, he stressed.
Accordingto participants, the innovative startups in high-tech agriculture not only opena new avenue for young people, but also promote the development of the agricultureand agro-processing sectors in each country, and the exchange of goods and farmproduce among regional nations.
ASEAN Plus 3 Young Entrepreneurs Forum is the realisation of the Hanoi Initiative, endorsed by the ASEAN MinisterialMeeting on Youth, with focus on nurturing young human resources, which tookplace in November 2011.-VNA