The fourth Business Incubator Forum and APEC SMEs Business Forum opened in Hanoi on September 21.

Speaking at the opening session of the forum, Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Vu Tien Loc said “To realise the role of SMEs in the national economy, Vietnam and other APEC member economies have timely issued policies to support SMEs as well as programmes to promote creativeness in science and technology. He said that business incubation and connection between technologies and enterprises should become a development policy for APEC member economies”.

Le Dinh Tien, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology confirmed that business incubation has brought economic benefits and increase the quantity and quality of technology initiatives in order to boost technology transfer and encourage the development of science and technology.

During the opening session, Minister of Planning and Investment Vo Hong Phuc stated that in the coming time, SMEs should be trained to improve management skills, competitiveness and market development. Besides, APEC member economies should pay attention to training new staff to establish a business network.

Among APEC member economies, SMEs account for 98 percent of the number of enterprises, contributing 35 percent to the country’s total export turnover and generating 58 percent of jobs.