Mekong Delta startup valley takes shape

A startup network of the Mekong Delta was launched at a ceremony held by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)’s Can Tho chapter (VCCI Can Tho) on May 24.
Mekong Delta startup valley takes shape ảnh 1A corner of Mekong Delta city of Can Tho (Photo: kinhtevadubao.vn)
Can Tho (VNA) – A startup network of the Mekong Delta was launched at aceremony held by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)’s Can Thochapter (VCCI Can Tho) on May 24.

Speakingat the event, Director of VCCI Can Tho Vo Hung Dung stressed that the MekongDelta region is oriented to develop into a “startup valley” , inspired by theUS model of Silicon Valley, but the region will focus on agriculturalproduction and food processing.

Henoted that startup is an urgent need in the Mekong Delta as the region isfacing formidable challenges like stagnant economic growth and climate change.

However,startup is not the work of an individual or a single organisation, he said,explaining that it needs a network of suppliers, distributors, partners andstate organisations in order to roll out a product or service for customersthrough both competition and cooperation. This is the real meaning of a startupecosystem, he said.

The delta had nearly 30,000 corporations in 2016, accounting for just 7.7percent of the country’s figure. However, the companies operated in small scaleand there were only two percent of high-tech businesses in the region.

As a major urban centre in the region, Can Tho city has advantages ininfrastructure for technology development, and thus it should become alocomotive of innovative startup.

A representative from Vinh Long province suggested that Can Tho city needs tocoordinate and give specific startup orientation to prevent overlapping ideas,adding that ideas on organic farming and coffee plantation are flourishing butthey are only pale imitations and lack creativity.

Director of Can Tho city’s Department of Trade and Industry Nguyen Minh Toai saidstartup businesses often meet difficulty in accessing capital, recommendingthat the government should help with connecting startups and commercial banks.

Reforms in administrative procedures and business laws and upgrade of researchinstitutes were among recommendations to facilitate startups in the delta.

According to Vice Director of VCCI Can Tho Nguyen Phuong Lam, the chamber setup a startup support programme for 2016-2020 with vision to 2030 called “MekongStartup” with the goal of 1,000 new enterprises in technology and management by2020.-VNA
VNA

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