On the afternoon of April 2, 2025, at the headquarters of the I-Hub Foundation Cobotics Center (IHFC) under the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-Delhi), the Embassy of Vietnam in India, in collaboration with IHFC, organized a seminar connecting Vietnamese and Indian startups. The event marked a new milestone in startup and innovation cooperation between the two countries.
Speaking at the seminar on the Indian side were Ms. A. Dhanalakshmi – Head of the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology of India; Mr. Ashutosh Dutt Sharma – Director of the IHFC Technology and Innovation Funding Center; and Mr. L.V. Rajan Kolath – Trade Advisor at IHFC. Representing Vietnam were Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Hai; Mr. Do Quoc Hung – Deputy Director General of the Department of Foreign Market Development, Ministry of Industry and Trade; and Mr. Dinh Viet Hoa – President of the National Startup Association. The event also saw the participation of more than 50 startup representatives from both countries, as well as organizations supporting startups and potential investors.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Hai highly appreciated the startup cooperation potential between the two countries, especially in the context of both nations promoting entrepreneurship and innovation toward the goal of becoming developed countries. He affirmed that the Embassy would continue to actively support business networking activities, contributing to the robust development of Vietnam–India startup cooperation.
In her speech, Ms. A. Dhanalakshmi emphasized the role of India’s innovation ecosystem in promoting sustainable economic growth, noting that the number of startups in India had increased from 100,000 to 200,000 over the past four years. She also highlighted the importance of India’s technology diplomacy, proposed that both countries enhance cooperation in training and capacity-building in technology and innovation, and affirmed India’s readiness to share its experiences and collaborate deeply with Vietnam in the tech startup sector.
At the seminar, startup representatives from both countries shared technological solutions integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI), Financial Technology (Fintech), and more to meet specific needs in tourism, education, cross-border trade, healthcare, agriculture, and beyond. Some investment funds present at the event expressed interest in investing in these startups.
During the seminar, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between IHFC and the Vietnam National Startup Association (VNES) on a cooperation program to develop the innovation and startup ecosystem. This MoU is a significant milestone that affirms both sides’ commitment to long-term collaboration in supporting startups through training, consulting, investment networking, and promoting international market access.
The seminar was not only a forum for information exchange but also opened up numerous practical cooperation opportunities among startups, investors, and innovation-supporting organizations from both countries. It was a concrete step toward realizing the goal of building a dynamic, interconnected startup ecosystem between Vietnam and India—two of the fastest-growing economies in the region. The event also aimed to effectively implement Resolution 57 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in developing science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation.
Related Post