ASEAN+3 Young Entrepreneurs Forum kicks off in HCM City

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The four-day event is organised by the National Committee on Youth of Vietnam in collaboration with the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, drawing the participation of the 160 young businesses and leaders from 10 ASEAN countries and three dialogue nations of the Republic of Korea, Japan and China.

Themed “Towards Innovative Hi-tech Agricultural Startups”, the forum will serve as a venue for young entrepreneurs to share hi-tech agricultural startup models, contributing to realising ASEAN Economic Community’s goals and building a sustainable community.

In his opening remarks, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee Nguyen Ngoc Luong underlined the sound cooperation between ASEAN member states and its dialogue partners.

As innovation in hi-tech agriculture is a global trend, young entrepreneurs should bolster cooperation for the development of the ASEAN 3, he said.

Meanwhile, Tan Sije Darren, a representative from Singapore, said that ASEAN countries are facing formidable challenges like broadening population, climate change and rapid urbanisation which have affected a wide range of sectors, including agriculture.

Startup and innovation in hi-tech agriculture are deemed as effective solutions to the matter, he said, adding that collaboration in the field will help stabilise and develop high-quality food in each country.

Experience in startup as well as challenges and opportunities in hi-tech agricultural startup are on the table at the forum. Participants are also scheduled to make fact-finding tours and visit some tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Thap province.

Since 1997, the ASEAN + 3 cooperation mechanism has functioned as a coordinator of cooperation between the ASEAN and the three East Asian nations of China, Japan, and South Korea.

The forum is part of the Vietnam’s ASEAN 3 youth cooperation mechanism to concretise the Hanoi initiative on developing ASEAN young human resources. There, young entrepreneurs meet, exchange and enhance trust to branch out business models towards sustainable development while raising the youth’s awareness of the ASEAN Community, and Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements.