HÀ NỘI — Thousands of people attended the Hà Nội Innovation Summit 2019, which opened on Thursday at the National Convention Centre.

Attendees included representatives from ministries, embassies, municipal authorities and domestic and international enterprises.

Speaking at the two-day summit, Chairman of the Hà Nội People’s Committee Nguyễn Đức Chung called it an important event for the capital city’s start-up community.

Chung said the summit aims to help gradually answer the question of how to build a creative start-up ecosystem for Hà Nội that is integrated into the national, regional and international ecosystem.

He also said the summit was an opportunity to connect Hà Nội's creative start-up community with entrepreneurs around the world.

It will connect investors, experts, technological groups, domestic and international universities and institutes, and encourage the creative entrepreneurial spirit across Việt Nam.

Chung said he hoped the summit would not only find solutions to urgent problems for the capital city, but also connect the best pioneers and start-ups around the world with Vietnamese start-ups, providing local firms multi-dimensional perspectives and experiences.

Municipal authorities will listen to opinions from start-up businesses and create an attractive and safe environment for investors, investment funds and start-ups all over the world.

Chung said that encouragement and support from the Government and ministries would allow creative projects to flourish.

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyễn Chí Dũng said the summit, along with other efforts from the Government, would help develop the nation's fledgling start-up community.

Dũng said experts, business leaders, researchers and talented young people participating in the summit would be key factors to help Hà Nội and Việt Nam take advantage of the rapid changes of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Representatives at the summit said the event would promote awareness of start-ups among the community, especially for students, young people and academics. It would also serve to promote investment and trade in the technology sector. — VNS