Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hands over the certificates of merit to outstanding young entrepreneurs in Ha Noi. — Photo VGP

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc yesterday praised the patriotism, creativity and contributions to national development of Viet Nam's young entrepreneurs.

During his address in ceremonies marking the end of the two-day Fifth Congress of the Viet Nam Young Entrepreneurs Association in the capital city yesterday, the Deputy Prime Minister also said young Vietnamese entrepreneurs needed to be more proactive in providing knowledge, skills and bravery in the economy while enhancing closer links with partners and mobilising every resource to develop their respective businesses in an effective and sustainable manner.

Looking back 21 years, the Viet Nam Young Entrepreneurs Association has grown and become stronger in the business community and has become an excellent representative of the young generation of Viet Nam people in the renovation process, Phuc said.

They were dynamic and creative, dare to think, do and take responsibility and were determined to overcome difficulties to enrich themselves and the whole country," he added.

The Congress opened yesterday with nearly 1,000 delegates from across Viet Nam attending. In the last 21 years, the association has grown from a 15-member club under the Viet Nam Youth Federation into a network of nearly 10,000 members in all of the country's provinces and cities. Its members have generated more than 2.5 million jobs and US$25 billion in annual revenues.

During the Congress, delegates reviewed the last term and discussed plans for the 2014-2017 term, as well as recommendations for the Party and State to support young entrepreneurs in production. A ceremony to honor Viet Nam's 100 most outstanding young entrepreneurs was also held on the same day.

The association has made significant contributions to modernising the agricultural sector. Nguyen Phi Long, Secretary of the Viet Nam Youth Union and Vice President of the Viet Nam Youth Federation, said: "The association has rallied young entrepreneurs in national construction and defense. It has helped young people to start up their businesses and support themselves."

In recent years, a number of activities of the association were socially recognised, such as economic links, trade promotion, international cooperation and policy dialogue. The association has also won prestigious awards, including the Viet Nam Gold Star and Red Star, for doing charitable work for the community.

From the ranks of successful young first-generation entrepreneurs, many have become leading entrepreneurs of the country, such as Truong Gia Binh, Vo Quoc Thang, Mai Huu Tin, and Phuong Huu Viet.

The Deputy Prime Minister said young entrepreneurs have to take the lead in innovation, high-technology applications and new managerial skills while restructuring the economy, enhancing the competitive edge of their products and taking the intitative in global integration.

The entrepreneurs were also asked to prepare to overcome challenges and embrace new opportunities as the country was integrating much more deeply into the world economy, as shown by the Trans-Pacific Partnership and free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union.

Phuc also affirmed that the Party and State leaders have made efforts to focus on improving the socialist-oriented market economy to create a fair and competitive environment and the most favorable conditions for the business community.

In particular, the Government has instructed concerned ministries, agencies and departments to make drastic reforms of administrative procedures so as to create favorable conditions for production and business development and helping enterprises to gradually overcome difficulties, he added. — VNS