Singapore’s Action Community of Entrepreneurship (ACE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Vietnam’s National Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Development (NATEC) earlier this morning. The MOU seeks to establish a cooperative relationship between the two countries for nurturing their robust start-up ecosystems. This includes the provision of venture capital development and other areas of support and development.

The MOU was signed by Dr Mark Hon, Chairman of ACE, and Dr Pham Hong Quat, General Director of NATEC, Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) following the opening ceremony of Techfest Vietnam 2016 in Hanoi today.

The MOU outlines several initiatives that promote exchanges among the start-up ecosystems of both Vietnam and Singapore. These include the provision of co-working arrangements that serve as landing points for start-ups looking to venture into the respective markets. This is supported with the provision of knowledge workshops and programmes, networking events and support clinics for start-ups. The MOU also encourages both organisations to support the promotion and marketing of each other’s events and programmes.

“We are delighted to collaborate with NATEC, Vietnam to promote entrepreneurial exchanges. With a population of more than 94 million people, Vietnam is an important market in Asia-Pacific where start-ups can stand to gain a firm standing. Our partnerships with overseas organisations, such as NATEC in Vietnam, will not only offer our entrepreneurs valuable market access, but also serve as a landing point for foreign start-ups looking to venture into Singapore and the ASEAN region. ACE will continue to forge these relationships to support our aspiring entrepreneurs in their overseas’ ventures,” said Dr Mark Hon, Chairman of ACE.

Vietnam has established itself as an important emerging market for entrepreneurs to tap into. The nation has enjoyed a steady 6.4% growth in GDP per capita in the 2000s (source: The World Bank, updated September 26, 2016).

With rising affluence coupled with greater ease of doing business, wider internet and mobile connectivity and strong government support, Vietnam has become a lucrative destination for businesses to expand their presence. The MOU between ACE and NATEC grants local entrepreneurs invaluable access into Vietnam, providing them with the foundation needed for a successful enterprise out of Singapore.

The MOU is also a timely initiative amidst the rapidly growing entrepreneurship scene in Singapore. Fuelled by the rise of technology, nearly three quarters of millennials surveyed in Singapore plans to start their own business within the next ten years. More than 30% of them began their entrepreneurial venture while in school, blazing the trail for an even more vibrant start-up ecosystem in the near future. Many of these budding entrepreneurs will benefit from ACE’s continuous endeavours to support them with resources, networks, mentorships and overseas access.

ACE’s continuous endeavours to build bridges with key overseas and regional markets are keys in cultivating a conducive ecosystem for innovative local start-ups to grow and scale. ACE has forged a strong collaboration with SPRING Singapore and other Singapore government agencies to support the local start-up community with the right resources, networks, partnerships and opportunities which contribute to the building of a vibrant and connected regional environment in which innovative start-ups can thrive.