(20 November 2021)

Sunwah – During the trip, Mr Jesse Choi joined meetings with several startup supporting organizations, namely the National Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Development (Ministry of Science and Technology), National Innovation Center (Ministry of Planning and Investment), Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and BK Holdings (Hanoi University of Science and Technology). During the meetings, Mr Choi expressed Sunwah’s attention towards the development of the startup ecosystem in Vietnam as well as sharing some upcoming projects organized by Sunwah Innovations in terms of promoting Vietnam startups to go global and attracting international resources to Vietnam.

In the morning of 17 November, Sunwah’s delegation paid a visit to VCCI headquarters in Hanoi and met with Mr Nguyen Quang Vinh, General Secretary; Mr Pham Ngoc Tuan, Editor in Chief of Vietnam Business Forum Magazine and Head of VCCI Startup Project, and Ms Truong Bich Ngoc, Deputy Director of General International Relation Department. VCCI shared their innovation initiatives and looked forward to future collaborations with Sunwah Innovations not only in business but also in the field of innovation.

Mr Jesse Choi (fourth from left) and Mr Nguyen Quang Vinh (fifth from left) , General Secretary of VCCI and Mr Pham Ngoc Tuan (third from right), Editor in Chief, Vietnam Business Forum Magazine, Head of VCCI Startup Project 

 Also on the same day, Mr Jesse Choi met with BK Holdings (under University of Science and Technology), one of the leading startup incubators and accelerators in Hanoi. Mr Nguyen Trung Dung, CEO of BK Holdings, received Mr Jesse Choi at their co-working space and shared about the interest of BK Holdings to extend collaboration with Sunwah Innovations to further foster the exchange of Vietnamese startups with overseas partners, especially in Hong Kong and Mainland China.

Mr Jesse Choi and Sunwah Innovations’s delegation (left) in the meeting with BK Holdings

In the afternoon of 17 November, Mr Jesse Choi attended the Finale of the “VNU Startup and Innovation Ideas Contest 2021”, a startup contest organized at the ULIS – Jonathan KS Choi Cultural Centre, which is inside the campus of the Vietnam National University of Hanoi (VNUHN). Sunwah Innovations is the Co-organizer and Main Sponsor of the Contest. Ms Katie Nguyen, Deputy Director of Sunwah Innovations, also joined the Jury Board alongside notable representatives from government agencies, startup supporting organizations, and corporations. In his welcome remarks, Mr Jesse Choi said: “This Contest is an important milestone for the partnership between Sunwah Group and VNUHN, especially in the innovation field, to encourage entrepreneurship within students and create a launchpad for young entrepreneurs. During the past 10 years of cooperation and development with many projects in the fields of education, social activities, and international exchanges, Sunwah Group has always cherished VNUHN as a close, long-term partner, a leading national and regional education, and training institution.”

Mr Jesse Choi (right) and Prof. Dr. Pham Bao Son (left), Vice President of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi 

Honored Guests, Jury Board and representatives from 12 startup teams in the Finale of “VNU Startup and Innovation Ideas Contest 2021”

On 18 November, Mr Choi joined a meeting with the National Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Development (Ministry of Science and Technology). Sunwah’s delegation was welcomed by Mr Pham Hong Quat, General Director of the Agency. During the meeting, Mr Choi expressed his attention towards the development of Vietnamese startups and praised the works of the National Agency in supporting the ecosystem in Vietnam, especially with the success of TECHFEST and many more projects to further assist the development of Vietnamese startups in recent years.

Mr Jesse Choi (right) and Mr Pham Hong Quat (left), General Director, the National Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Development (Ministry of Science and Technology)

On 19 November, Mr Do Tien Thinh, Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center (Ministry of Planning and Investment) welcomed Mr Jesse Choi and Sunwah delegation at the Center’s headquarters. A productive meeting has taken place with many fruitful exchanges from both sides. Mr Jesse Choi expressed his delight knowing that NIC and Sunwah Innovations share many mutual interests and hoped to see more collaborations between the two parties in the coming time.

Mr Jesse Choi and Sunwah Innovations delegation (right) in the meeting with the National Innovation Center (Ministry of Planning and Investment)

Mr Choi also shared that the flagship Sunwah Innovation Center in Ho Chi Minh City, along with the Sunwah International Innovation Platform, will continue to contribute resources to fuel entrepreneurship in Vietnam, support and equip young startups to go global and increase the influx of foreign investment into Vietnam through Sunwah Group’s global network of partners and resources.

Also, during the trip, Mr Jesse Choi conducted courtesy visits to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam.

Mr Jesse Choi during visit to Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam
Mr Jesse Choi during visit to Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam