Hanoi, 12 September 2025 – On 10-11 September, the 7th International Forum of National Innovation and Startup was held in the Vietnamese port city of Ha Long (the capital of Quang Ninh Province) on the theme “Converging global resources to develop local innovations and creative startup ecosystems in the digital economy era”.

The event was held under the auspices of Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, local authorities and the Vietnam National Entrepreneurship Association (VINEN). It was attended by about 500 participants from various companies and other structures of Vietnam, Singapore and other ASEAN countries, China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Pakistan and Iran.

At the opening ceremony, Mr. Hoàng Minh, Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Science and Technology; Mr. Vũ Văn Diện, Standing Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh Province; Ambassadors Kanat Tumysh of Kazakhstan Shovgi Mehdizada of Azerbaijan; as well as VINEN President Mr. Đinh Việt Hòa presented their reports as organizers and honorary guests of the event.

Mr. Hoàng Minh, Senior Representative of the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology, emphasized that technologies such as AI, IoT, and blockchain are reshaping industries worldwide while opening new avenues for creativity and growth. At the same time, trends in green economy, circular economy, and sustainability are becoming global priorities. Therefore, the country's leadership is already introducing favourable policies to foster breakthrough innovation in the digital age. He also called on ministries and local authorities to effectively coordinate to implement national goals in this area, strengthen government-business ties, establish innovation centers, form a network of mentors and investors in order to lay a solid foundation for startup communities both in Vietnam and across Asia.

Mr. Vũ Văn Diện, High Representative of the Quang Ninh leadership, innovative entrepreneurship is “not merely a movement, but a new growth driver tied to digital transformation, global value chains, and green growth.” This postulate goes in line with the words of the Head of Kazakhstan that entrepreneurs must be the driving force of digital development.

Ambassador of Kazakhstan Kanat Tumysh, who spoke third, familiarized the participants to the Forum with the main provisions of the State of the Nation Address of the President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, delivered on 8 September 2025. The audience from Vietnam and Asian countries was impressed by the modernisation of the economy of Kazakhstan through the large-scale digitalisation and the active integration of artificial intelligence technologies; plans to restructure the entire system of public administration – dramatically increasing its transparency, efficiency and human-centredness; as well as the setting a strategically important goal: to turn Kazakhstan into a fully digital nation within three years.

At the same time, a lively response found such initiatives as the adoption of the Digital Code and a unified conceptual document on digitalisation and artificial intelligence – “Digital Qazaqstan”, to become part of the new technological order; the establishment of one of the world’s first Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development headed by a specialist with the rank of Deputy Prime Minister, and creation of the State Digital Assets Fund to accumulate a strategic crypto reserve consisting of the most promising assets of the new digital financial system; as well as future wide-spread introduction of the digital Tenge, which will effectively prevent corruption.

In addition, the launch of a supercomputer in our country and the planned establishment of the advanced development city in Kazakhstan named Alatau as a new centre for business activity and innovation with the attraction of investments from world-class companies, and endowed with a special status with direct subordination to the Government, made an additional impression on the audience. Especially, the fact that it will become one of the first fully digital cities not only in the Central Asian region (from application of the Smart City technologies to the ability to pay for goods and services with cryptocurrencies), but also on the Asian continent.

This year, the forum focused on three main ideas: mobilizing resources from government, business, academia and investors, accelerating innovation to turn knowledge into products and markets, and inspiring young entrepreneurs to think globally and act locally.

Delegates exchanged views on global startup trends, the application of artificial intelligence, e-commerce and digital transformation, and explored solutions for attracting and using international resources. Cooperation agreements were signed during the forum to develop startup activities, and outstanding organisations, companies and individuals from Vietnam and Asian countries were awarded.

Forum participants also took part in a training session on “Innovation and Startups – New Thinking in the Digital Age” and visited exhibitions on: technology application; startup products; investment promotion and Vietnamese branded goods.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-hanoi/press/news/details/1066702?lang=kk