Vũ Tiến Lộc, chairman of Việt Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) introduced activities in ASEAN 2020. — VNS Photo Vũ Hoa

HÀ NỘI — A series of business activities in ASEAN 2020 with the chair of Việt Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) as assigned by the ASEAN National Committee 2020 would be carried out this year.

Speaking at a press meeting held in Hà Nội on Wednesday, Vũ Tiến Lộc, VCCI’s chairman said VCCI holds the position as the chairman of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) in 2020.

He said tasks are to foster public-private partnerships (PPP) towards the integration and formation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and providing feedback to the private sector on the implementation of ASEAN regional economic co-operation and making priority areas for submission to ASEAN leaders.

This was the reason that VCCI would organise seven activities from November 9 to 16 including the Vietnam Business Summit 2020 (VBS) themed Việt Nam Digitalisation, the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2020 (ASEAN-BIS) themed Digital ASEAN, activities of the East Asia Business Council (EABC) and ASEAN BAC, ASEAN BAC heritage project, and digital start-up network - STARS.

Lộc said 2020 is a challenging year for the global business community, in which ASEAN and Vietnamese businesses are no exception.

In the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic, Lộc said businesses need to work towards sustainable and inclusive development, internationalisation and digitalisation to enhance their competitiveness, cohesion and integration.

"With the focus on sustainable development and digital transformation process, VBS and ASEAN BIS 2020 will be necessary forums for businesses to explore opportunities for co-operation and capture new trends from which to create appropriate development strategies,” Lộc said.

Đoàn Duy Khương, VCCI’s vice chairman said in the context that ASEAN countries, as well as the whole world, are suffering from the severe impacts of COVID-19, with a narrowed consumer market and declining production, as well as a shortage of workers and a broken value chain, the ASEAN BAC 2020 under the chairmanship of VCCI will make recommendations on behalf of enterprises in the bloc.

“These conferences will be a good opportunity for Vietnamese and ASEAN businesses to promote their brands, affirm their position in the region and in the international arena, expand co-operation and attract investment,” he added.

Also at the press conference, the ASEAN Business Awards 2020 (ABA 2020) was officially announced to honour the best enterprises in Southeast Asia and those that have been making important contributions in the prevention of the pandemic throughout the ASEAN region.

Nguyễn Thị Nga, chairwoman of BRG Group and ABA 2020, said businesses have been heavily affected by COVID-19. But this is also the time for the best businesses to show their bravery and become more prominent when they are able to continue production and business activities while ensuring safe disease prevention.

“Therefore, ABA 2020 has a special stature, in a special context that honours exceptional businesses in the region,” Nga said.

Phạm Đình Đoàn, chairman of Phú Thái Group and a member of ASEAN BAC Việt Nam said the digital start-up network - STARS connects technology start-ups in ASEAN to promote exchanges and learn from experiences about innovation. It would also promote digital transformation, especially for small and micro enterprises in order to create motivation for economic development in ASEAN. — VNS