At the workshop (Photo: VNA)Can Tho (VNA) – TheMekong Delta city of Can Tho, an economic hub of the Mekong Delta, is expectedto become a startup valley in the Mekong Delta region by 2020.
The goal was made at a workshopon “Vietnam Startup Index 2015/2016” held on December 13 by the Vietnam Chamberof Commerce andIndustry (VCCI) Can Tho branch and the municipal of Departmentof Planning and Investment in the city.
The workshop focused on measuresfor startup development in Can Tho based on the startup situation in Vietnam in2015 - 2016.
Can Tho had 67,000 enterprisesand business households as well as 221 cooperatives in 2016, contributing 4trillion VND to the local budget and providing over 125,000 jobs, said NguyenThanh Dung, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, adding that thecity’s economy steadily grew at 5.88 percent per year, ranking 14th among63 cities and provinces in competitiveness.
However, a lack of a comprehensivelegal framework and stable government investment has posed challenges to local startups.They also lack confidence, experience and creativity.
To tackle these problems, thecity is advised to create a creative environment while promoting trainingprogrammes for startups and businessmen, said Truong Quoc Trang, DeputyDirector of the municipal Department of Planning and Investment.
He added that a training coursethemed “Your startups” will be held by the department and the VCCI Can Thochapter in 2017.
The course is expected to providebasic skills and knowledge on startups for youths.
Meanwhile, the municipalDepartment of Science and Technology will coordinate with the city’s VCCI to createand expand a working space network and suggest business directions for startups,said Tran Hoai Phuong, the department’s Deputy Director.
Startup competitions will be heldto encourage enterprises to exchange their experience, he added.
A support foundation will befounded by the VCCI with a targeted budget of 10 billion VND in 2017 – 2020 to supportinfrastructure construction and training programmes, according to Vo Hung Dung,Director of VCCI Can Tho chapter.
The foundation will call for governmentfinancial support and investment of big businesses to professionalise startups.-VNA
