Let's meet to create opportunities.
Mr. Vo Hong Long, Director of Phu Binh Cooperative (Tam Xuan commune), believes that most small businesses have their own strengths, but without connections, it is very difficult to turn those strengths into market opportunities. Some units excel in production but are weak in sales, some are strong in marketing but lack a stable supply of goods, while many places with customers lack products that can be supplied sustainably. Participation in business communities has helped connect these disparate links.
“Starting a business locally is very stressful due to a lack of capital, a lack of markets, and a lack of like-minded people. It's easy to get discouraged if you work alone, but with a community, you have people to share experiences, support you with sales, and warn you about mistakes you've made. Many opportunities actually come from very ordinary encounters, like attending club meetings or trade fairs. Many collaborative models begin with people getting to know each other first before starting a business,” Long shared.
The story of the Laco app also clearly demonstrates the role of local networks for small startups. Mr. Ha Nhat Anh, founder of the Laco app (Hoa Cuong ward), said that with a digital platform model, finding the right partner directly determines the operational viability of the business.
According to him, one of the greatest values that business associations bring today is creating trust among members, because many initial collaborations don't come from grand plans but begin with a meeting or an introduction.
“Once, I sat at the same table with the owner of a seafood restaurant chain at a gala of the Young Entrepreneurs Association. After talking for about 20 minutes, we agreed to try a driver-to-ride service at one of their restaurants. To this day, that chain has become one of Laco’s biggest order-generating partners,” Anh recounted.
However, according to Mr. Anh, many business associations still lack systematic networking tools for businesses in the growth phase. Most connections still rely on personal relationships, while businesses now need more member databases, systems for identifying supply and demand, and networks of practical mentors to make the networking process more effective.
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Emphasize the leadership role.
Mr. Pham Khac Thinh, Chairman of the Business and Startup Association of Dien Ban Bac Ward, believes that the most important role of the association today is to create an environment for local businesses to meet, understand each other, and build trust for cooperation. For small businesses, trust is almost the first condition for sharing customers, sources of goods, experience, or distribution channels with each other.
Recently, in Dien Ban Bac ward, groups have begun to emerge that cooperate in specific fields such as OCOP (One Commune One Product), clean agriculture , and community tourism. Although still small in scale, these groups show that local businesses are gradually shifting from an individualistic mindset to supporting each other in each stage of the value chain.
"It's noteworthy that the role of the association is no longer limited to gathering members, but must also identify the strengths and weaknesses of each group of businesses to guide appropriate connections. A cooperative with good products needs to meet with media outlets, and a business with sales channels needs more stable sources of supply...", Mr. Thinh said.
Sharing the local story, Mr. Tran Quang Vu, Chairman of the Business and Creative Startup Association of Tam Ky Ward, said that to support members more effectively, the business associations themselves need to change their operating methods towards greater professionalism and closer cooperation.
Support programs need to be coordinated, resource-sharing, and leverage existing training and networking programs instead of being spread too thinly. Many small businesses expect programs that can generate real market opportunities, orders, and specific collaborative projects.
"In reality, the role of many grassroots business associations is gradually shifting from a place for interaction and networking to an intermediary connecting resources for development. As small businesses increasingly need more markets, technology, and industry partners, well-organized associations at the commune and ward levels can create more substantial linkages for local businesses," Mr. Vu said.
Source: https://baodanang.vn/khong-gian-ket-noi-hieu-qua-3336222.html
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