The 19th edition of the annual event was hosted by the Business Forum Magazine under theVietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).
In hisopening remarks, VCCI President Pham Tan Cong said Vietnam, like many countriesaround the world, was facing various challenges caused by the uncertainties ofthe COVID-19 last year. Vietnam has suffered a tough blow from the pandemic as forthe first time in the history, the economy declined 6 percent in the thirdquarter of 2021, he said.
The resilienceof enterprises and rise of entrepreneurial spirit in Vietnam remained bright spotof the economy despite all the difficulties, he noted, adding that last year, about116,800 businesses were newly founded, 43,100 resumed operation, reflectingstrong efforts of the Vietnamese business community to restructure and adapt tothe COVID-19 and startup spirit of Vietnamese people.
In 2021,Vietnam ranked 44th out of 132 countries and economies in the GlobalInnovation Index (GII) and 59th out of 100 countries in startupecosystem. The country also came third in the list of the most active startupecosystem in Southeast Asia after Indonesia and Singapore./.