On Thursday, a workshop took place in Da Nang to discuss the implementation of a project to develop the city’s start-up ecosystem by 2020, with a vision towards 2030. 

Organised by the Da Nang Start-up Council (DSC), the event was attended by municipal People’s Committee Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh, along with representatives from Viet Nam-based international start-up support organisations and those from relevant local agencies and the city’s universities.

The project will focus on promoting innovations in local start-up activities, issuing even more suitable support policies for start-up businesses, developing the local start-up infrastructure system, offering more training courses, and enhancing technology transfers.

By 2020, Da Nang aims to give financial aid to implement a total of 200 start-up projects and set up 80 businesses involved in this aspect.  Also, up to 3 new business incubators centres will be established in the city, and more start-up training programmes will be introduced at local universities and colleges.   Importance will also be attached to setting up between 3 and 5 venture capital funds and establishing the municipal Start-up Support Fund.

By 2030, Da Nang aims to become one of the leading start-up hubs in Viet Nam, with sustainable development, an innovative start-up ecosystem, an improved legislative system, and a favourable investment environment for investors from both home and aboard.

Many start-up experts have proposed that the city should take advantage of its favourable geographical position to establish an Innovation Hub by the Sea to enhance the competitiveness of the local start-up community. 

It was also suggested that local start-up activities should be conducted in combination with promoting the development of some local spearhead economic sectors, including tourism, trade, and hi-tech.  Also, special attention should be paid to developing human resources for the local start-up community. 

The Chairman of DSC, Mr Vo Duy Khuong, said that start-up training programmes will be offered for students from local universities in the middle of next year, utilising funding from DSC.

Addressing the workshop, Vice Chairman Minh remarked, “Successful start-up activities will accelerate the city’s growth as well as help local businesses to enhance their global integration”.   He also noted that representatives from DSC will carefully consider all the recommendations mentioned above to develop the city’s start-up policy system over the years ahead.