HÀ NỘI — About 2,500 delegates are expected to participate in the Vietnam Online Business Forum 2019 in three major cities of Hà Nội, Đà Nẵng and HCM City this month, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Vietnam E-commerce Association (VECOM).

According to head of the VECOM’s office Trần Văn Trọng, participants will focus on ‘hot’ topics which directly impact businesses such as competitiveness, legal corridors and the transformation of Industry 4.0.

Participating delegates will talk about information, trends and solutions in multiple fields relating to e-commerce such as marketing, delivery, payment, technology, start-ups, and foreign investment.

“This year’s forum will continue discussing topics about start-ups in e-commerce, targeting to bring more valuable experience for the young start-up community of Việt Nam,” said Trọng.

The Vietnam e-commerce index 2019 will be announced at the forum. After eight consecutive years, this index has become a reliable source of information reflecting the current situation, outstanding issues and the development trend of e-commerce both nationally and locally, contributing to building policy, law, State management and business operations.

Director of VECOM Nguyễn Kỳ Minh said 2018 was the busiest year for online business with a growth rate of over 30 per cent, equivalent to US$7.8 billion, much higher than the $4 billion in 2015.

“If the growth rate of 2019 continues to be at 30 per cent, the market size will reach $13 billion next year. This scale will exceed the target set in the Government’s e-commerce development plan for the period of 2016-20, that is $10 billion in 2020,” Minh said.

Minh said there needs to be a favourable environment and eco-system to develop e-commerce. “Specifically, advanced telecommunications infrastructure and information technology will help most people access the internet via mobile devices and rely on online transactions.”

Along with logistics services and order fulfillment, online business start-ups will have opportunities to access public services as well as flexible capital mobilisation capabilities,” he added.

The forum will take place in Hà Nội, Đà Nẵng and HCM City on March, 27, 15 and 29, respectively. — VNS