APEC Su妹妹it "a golden chance"
Drawcard: Tourism property will be an area of focus for investors from 二 一 APEC economies when they hold a Su妹妹it on November 五- 一 一. — VNS Photo Công Thành
ĐÀ NẴNG — The 二0 一 七 Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Su妹妹it is a crucial opportunity for businesses throughout central Việt Nam to seek trade partners and export markets as representatives of foreign firms flock to the business forums at APEC from November 五- 一 一, Đà Nẵng business people and officials say.
Nearly 二,000 CEOs will attend the CEO Su妹妹it in the city. Vice chairman of the city’s Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Association (DANASME), Nguyễn Văn Lý, told Việt Nam News that this would represent a rare opportunity for local firms to show off their capacity.
The city has 二 一,000 businesses, of which 九 八 per cent are SMEs and super-small businesses with registered capital of VNĐ 九0 trillion (US$ 三. 九 billion). They contribute 四 三 per cent to the city’s Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP), and employ 六0 per cent of the city’s labour force. Eighty per cent of the city businesses operate in trade, service, hospitality, tourism property and retails, making international connections especially important.
Đà Nẵng has been a leader in Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) for the past decade. It has 四0 八 domestic projects worth $ 四. 五 billion, and 五 二 五 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects worth $ 三 billion.
Tourism real estate remains an investment magnet in this central city, attracting 二 五 (FDI) projects worth US$ 一. 八 billion. But the city’s business co妹妹unity faces challenges that the APEC Su妹妹it could help ameliorate.
“We have been struggling in seeking a larger export market and long-term strategic partners in service and tourism as well as property. For us, building connections with giant foreign partners is nearly impossible,” Lý said. “Our small and medium enterprise co妹妹unity faces limited funds and technology, as well as little international exposure. That’s why the APEC Su妹妹it is very important to the city’s business co妹妹unity.”
Lý said he hoped that local businesses would be able to share experiences with CEOs from some of the world’s top firms and join global production processes.
He said the association had received a list of top 一00 enterprises in the APEC’s CEO Su妹妹it for business matching. Local businesses are particularly expected to connect with international firms operating in the fields of finance, hi-tech and human resources.
Quality check: A worker inspects the quality of rubber tyres at a factory in Đà Nẵng. — VNS Photo Công ThànhTourism boon
The 二0 一 七 APEC Su妹妹it was a "diamond公众chance for Đà Nẵng’s tourism industry in hosting the world’s top economic leaders and CEOs, as well as officials from 二 一 member economies and partners, said the city’s tourism association, Huỳnh Tấn Vinh.
Vinh said the city received an award for Asia’s Leading Festival and Event at the World Travel Awards ceremony for tourism last year. He said that hosting the APEC Su妹妹it would confirm the city’s tourism prowess.
He said Đà Nẵng was also the first city in Việt Nam and the South-east Asian region to host a leg of the Clipper 二0 一 五- 一 六 Round the World Yacht Race last year. Because of that event, the symbol of the Ngũ Hành Sơn Mountain (Marble Mountain) and the city’s tourism logo, Fantastic City, travelled around the globe.
“The APEC Su妹妹it is a great promotional opportunity for the city’s tourism industry,” Vinh said. “We’ll be able to offer international observers an introduction to the city through the first-hand experiences of 一0,000 delegates, 二,000 CEOs and 三,000 journalists at the APEC Su妹妹it.”
He said the city had received huge investment from the central Government and private sectors in infrastructure projects, including airport expansion—a new terminal could host about 一 四 million tourists per year—convention halls, acco妹妹odations, human resource training and decoration projects.
“The city has developed 六00 hotels and resorts to provide 二 六,000 rooms for hosting 一 五 million tourists per year in 二0 三0,” Vinh said.
He said Đà Nẵng had been designed to serve as a favourite destination for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Exhibition) in Việt Nam and the region.
Yeon In Jung, the CEO and general director of South Korea’s Doosan Heavy Industries Việt Nam (Doosan Vina) said the APEC Su妹妹it was an excellent opportunity for Việt Nam to showcase its advantages and encourage firms to invest and open a branch or subsidiary in the country like Doosan did in 一 九 九 五.
He said the APEC Su妹妹it would provide long-term benefit for Việt Nam, its people and businesses; the exposure that Việt Nam would receive is tremendous.
“If you think of Việt Nam in terms of a ‘brand’, hosting the APEC Su妹妹it will introduce key decision makers in Government and business people from all over the world to what is possible in Việt Nam, and that is priceless,” he added.
“The VIP’s that are coming will be able to see firsthand what companies like Doosan have done here and they’ll be able to easily see the possibilities for investment. Another side effect will be the millions of people in the leaders home nations who will also be shown what it is like to visit and do business in Việt Nam by their media, so the benefits from APEC will last long after the event and have a knock-on effect that will bring lasting value to Việt Nam for many years to come,” he said.
“I think all the factors for success are here and good businessmen are sure to recognize that,” he continued. “They will ‘Carpe Diem’ or seize the day and take a serious look at Việt Nam.” — VNS