ĐÀ NẴNG — More than 2,000 businesses, speakers and students joined the second International Start-up Conference and Exhibition in the central city yesterday, sharing experiences and ideas in panel and round-table discussions, talks and fireside charts among domestic and international experts.

The event, entitled Surf-the Start-up Wave 2017, also featured local government leaders, partners, investment funds, investors, entrepreneurs, enterprises, start-up support organisations, authorities, students from universities and residents from Hà Nội, HCM City, Huế, Quảng Nam, Bình Định, Cần Thơ, Đồng Tháp, Đà Nẵng and representatives from 27 countries and territories.

Đà Nẵng has launched its business start-up programme eco-system from now until 2020, with a vistion to 2030.

“We are looking to make the city into a start-up destination and international innovation hub of ASEAN in 2030. The 2017 International Start-up Conference and Exhibition will be a significant chance for the city and partners forming development of the city’s start-up ecosystem in the future,” said chairman of Đà Nẵng’s Start-up Network Council and Đà Nẵng Business Incubator, Võ Duy Khương.

“It’s also an opportunity for young businesses in Đà Nẵng seeking fund investors,” he said.

The event drew the participation of 70 pavilions from start-up projects and businesses, institutes, colleges and sponsors in panel discussions, roundtables, pitching competitions, and exhibitions.

Motivational speaker Jeff Hoffman, the cofounder of Priceline.com and of ColorJar, also shared experience and suggestion for young start-up businesses during the two-day event.

Young start-up businesses share their ideals and experience at the International Start-up Conference and Exhibition in Đà Nẵng. — VNS Photo Công Thành

Earlier this year, the city and the Ireland Embassy in Việt Nam agreed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on high quality human resource education, management skills for the city’s personnel and start-up programme for students in Đà Nẵng.

The MoU will include Master Education programme, education exchange among Đà Nẵng’s Economics College and Iris universities and humanitarian programme in supporting the disabled persons in Đà Nẵng.

Cáit Moran, Ambassador of Ireland to Việt Nam, said Ireland looks forward to a burgeoning partnership with Đà Nẵng City.

She said the MoU aims to boost the relationship between Ireland and the central city and foster co-operation between Đà Nẵng with locals and cities in Ireland.

Participants also focussed on the start-up ecosystem, support policies and investment as well as sharing experience and technology.

The conference, which was sponsored by the Asia Development Bank, the Mekong Business Initiative, Swiss EP and the Innovation Partnership Programme in Việt Nam, will close today.

Last year, the central city’s Sông Hàn Incubator launched a tourism start-up programme.

Đà Nẵng has 18,000 businesses,  95 per cent of which are small and medium-sized enterprises. — VNS