Vice President Võ Thị Ánh Xuân with delegates at the First ASEAN Veterans Business Forum. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI – Việt Nam will continue to provide optimal conditions for the promotion of cooperation among ASEAN veterans businesses and entrepreneurs, contributing to common efforts to build a united, self-reliant, and sustainably developed ASEAN Community, pledged Vice State President of Việt Nam Võ Thị Ánh Xuân at the opening of the first Veterans Confederation of ASEAN Countries (VECONAC) Business Forum in Hà Nội on Friday.

Xuân said that ASEAN, which gathers 10 member countries with diverse political regimes, cultures, languages, and development levels, has become one of the most comprehensive, dynamic developing and successful regional cooperation organisations. The fifth largest economy in the world accounts for about 8.6% of the global population, 3.4% of GDP, and 7.5% of total global trade value, she noted.

The official underlined that the formation of the VECONAC 44 years ago marked an important milestone in cooperation among veterans’ associations of member countries for the benefit of the veterans and their families, contributing to the countries’ development.

She highly valued solidarity, position, and contributions of the VECONAC as well as the formation of the VECONAC Business Forum Committee, which opens up opportunities for members to promote cooperation and contribute to the common development in the region.

Xuân affirmed that over the years, Việt Nam has worked hard to improve its investment and business environment, ensuring smooth and fair access to resources and support policies, enabling businesses, including veteran-owned ones, to develop sustainably and actively integrate into the world economy.

Ten years after its formation, the Việt Nam Veterans’ Business Association has drawn more than 13,700 members who have created jobs for about 780,000 labourers, including over 316,000 veterans and their offspring, she noted.

She expressed her hope that veterans’ businesses will diversify the ways of exchanging, connecting, and cooperating effectively, creating socio-economic values not only for businesses but also for people and the community.

The VECONAC Business Forum, jointly held by the Việt Nam Veterans’ Business Association and the Singapore Armed Forces Veterans' League, drew 200 delegates from the 10 ASEAN member countries. It aims to create opportunities for delegates to meet and share ideas on building sustainable business models for veterans in the region. VNS