Startups need a boost.
As a "cradle" of startups rooted in local values and cultural heritage, the Hoi An startup community has left a significant mark in the field of innovation over the years.
Nevertheless, some startups hope for the early establishment of a space to showcase traditional crafts in Hoi An's Old Town, bringing together local identity and making it more accessible to tourists. According to Mr. Huynh Phuong Do (a bamboo sculpture artisan), a shared space for craft demonstrations would greatly facilitate artisans in designing experiential shows for tourists with reasonable durations, as well as creating more unique products and elevating the craft.
Meanwhile, some startups raised challenges regarding raw materials and production space. A representative from Panda Kitchen Co., Ltd. proposed preferential rental rates for startup businesses. Another company requested support from authorities in establishing the Hoi An Creative Association and preferential rates for renting surplus office space for operations.
Mr. Nguyen Manh Tay, a descendant of the Cam Kim boat-building craft (Hoi An ward), has petitioned authorities for support in leasing land in Kim Bong carpentry village, as well as providing loan policies for startups to develop businesses and revive traditional crafts. In addition, Mr. Tay is planning to restore a traditional boat to convey the historical and cultural values of Hoi An, Quang Nam province.
Mr. Tran Thanh Hai, Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Hoi An Ward, proposed that the city should soon issue specific policies and mechanisms to support innovative startups, prioritizing projects that apply digital technology in the preservation and promotion of heritage. At the same time, he suggested strengthening public-private partnerships to mobilize social resources for creative activities.
Breakthrough proposals
Beyond traditional startup support programs, many groundbreaking pilot mechanisms and policies were put forward at the workshop.
With limited resources, most local startups currently struggle to access technology fairs, investment forums, or global networking opportunities due to high costs that exceed their self-sufficiency. Therefore, support for science and technology enterprises and innovative startups to participate in international activities is proposed.
In addition, a visa mechanism for "digital nomads"—a group of knowledge workers who work remotely, earn international income, and often choose cities with good living environments for long-term stays—was discussed. Current visa regulations mainly cater to short-term tourism needs with stays of around 3 months. The proposal to extend the stay to one year is seen as a step in line with the global trend of the digital economy.
According to Mr. Vo Duc Anh, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Innovation and Startup Support Center, Hoi An in particular and Da Nang in general have recently become very attractive destinations for the "digital nomads" community. The global "digital nomad" community currently numbers over 40 million people. Attracting this market segment would not only benefit the city from a stable source of spending but also provide an additional force of international experts contributing to the dissemination of knowledge, technology, and a startup culture.
From a financial perspective for startups, the Da Nang Innovation and Startup Support Center proposes piloting a stock and capital contribution exchange platform specifically for startups, along with a "one-person business" model. This is seen as a solution to address the long-standing capital shortage for startups in the Central region.
One practical proposal is to pilot the investment, management, and exploitation of public assets to create innovation spaces in communes and wards, given the current surplus of public buildings following administrative unit restructuring.
According to the proposal, existing infrastructure could be socialized, combining public-private models to become venues for showcasing startup products, organizing investment networking, or assisting young people in accessing legal procedures through virtual assistants.
The most groundbreaking proposal is to pilot a model for issuing global business registration certificates to foreign investors, drawing on the experiences of Singapore and Dubai. This mechanism allows businesses to register quickly, without needing investment project certificates, adopt flexible governance models, and operate within the city's innovation space.
Mr. Vo Duc Anh informed that, based on research into global models, a leading innovation center in the world needs two core criteria: innovative startup projects that "go global" and an environment that foreign investors feel is worthy of starting businesses in. Therefore, the competent authorities need to research and apply the aforementioned pilot policy groups to help Da Nang create a breakthrough in innovative startups.
Source: https://baodanang.vn/mo-duong-doi-moi-sang-tao-tu-gia-tri-di-san-3336996.html
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