Can Tho (VNA) – The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) inaugurated aninnovative start-up centre in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on April 17.

On this occasion,the VCCI also joined hands with Japan’s Brain Works Group to open an ICTrenovation centre in the city.

Nguyen Phuong Lam,Deputy Director of the VCCI’s branch in Can Tho, underlined the urgent demandfor technological application in industrial and agricultural development, andother spheres in the Mekong Delta amidst the fourth industrial revolution.

He also mentionedclose links between such sectors as industry, agriculture, infrastructure,education and health care, and information and communications technology (ICT),which, the official described as an important foundation to improvecompetitiveness of businesses and the nation, and to improve living standards.

The ICT renovationcentre, which is established on the basis of cooperation between the VCCI CanTho and Brain Works Group, aims to turn Can Tho into a hub of economy,education and science-technology in the Mekong Delta region and the country aswell, Lam said.

The centre isexpected to step up development cooperation in ICT renovation and applicationin Can Tho and other Mekong Delta localities, while connecting State agencies,non-governmental organisations, businesses and academies of Vietnam and Japanin this field.

Initially, thecentre will gather leading Japanese technological experts, with cooperation ofnearly 15 Japanese businesses specialising in recycling, environment, biofuels, education, Internet of Things, ICT, health care, building design, newmaterials and food processing.

Professor YoshiyukiKawazoe from Tohoku University, who is the centre’s director, said the centrewill partner with big scientific centres in Hanoi and HCM City, and others inemerging nations, ASEAN member countries, Japan and the US’s Silicon Valley.

The centre will alsopromote innovative start-ups in order to create new firms in innovativetechnoloies in Can Tho and the Mekong Delta at large.

Meanwhile, as partof the Mekong Start-up Networking established in 2016, the innovative start-upcentre operates under the management of the VCCI Can Tho and consultations oforganisations and individuals at home and abroad.

During its firstphase, the centre will carry out the exchange of experts, provide consultationsregarding start-up policies for localities, and organise start-up trainingcourses. ICT incubation models will be formed from 2019 onwards.

The two centres areexpected to create a momentum for development cooperation in technology and thebirth of new businesses, contributing to economic development in the region andthe nation.-VNA