Recap of the Ba Ria - Vung Tau Fisheries Innovation Contest 2024 Launch Conference
On June 27, 2024, the conference for the launching of Ba Ria - Vung Tau Fisheries Innovation Contest was organized with the theme "Green Transformation - Sustainable Development of the Fisheries Sector" organized. The event was kicked off with a speech by Mr. Tran Duy Tam Thanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology. He remarked, "The Ba Ria - Vung Tau Fisheries Innovation Contest has seen four years of growth, funded entirely through socialization and bolstered by support from prominent businesses, such as sponsorship from Hiep Luc Phat Trien Viet Co., Ltd. The contest has achieved significant success." He expressed heartfelt appreciation for the backing from these businesses.
Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province stands as a national maritime economic hub and ranks among the top five maritime economic development hubs nationwide. The fisheries sector is a critical component of this maritime economy. Therefore, innovation is vital, shifting focus from mere quantity to high-quality, organic, and environmentally friendly practices, aiming for sustainable economic development.
The demand for innovation in seafood processing businesses is rising as companies are becoming more open about the challenges they face. Many problems remain unsolved. Addressing this, Mr. Nguyen Viet Hoai, Deputy General Director of the Ba Ria - Vung Tau Seafood Processing and Export-Import Joint Stock Company, shared his insights at the conference: "Innovation in the fisheries sector should focus on solving business problems. Traditional methods have long dominated our fishing industry, and despite research and solution ideas from businesses, very few can be practically applied." He highlighted key issues for innovation in fisheries processing, such as clean water, ice for preservation, wastewater management, and energy conservation—primary concerns for businesses.
Pursuing sustainable maritime economic development involves numerous challenges, making innovation in the fisheries sector more crucial than ever. At the event, Mr. Kanwarpreet Singh, Sustainability Compliance Manager for Inter IKEA Group Southeast Asia, introduced new aspects for fisheries innovation, such as sustainable food packaging using recyclable or easily decomposable organic materials, and encouraging customers to use products with lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Ms. Nguyen Dang Tuan Minh, Founder and CEO of KisStartup Joint Stock Company, emphasized the vast opportunities for connection and cooperation with ASEAN countries and the world in the fisheries sector if innovation is pursued. She outlined a roadmap to connect Vietnam's fisheries innovation startup ecosystem internationally. Despite its early formation and advantages within ASEAN, Vietnam has not fully leveraged these to establish international connections, revealing a lack of cohesion within the domestic ecosystem. She also shared the company’s upcoming activities in collaboration with Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province to help connect its fisheries innovation ecosystem with the international community.
Mr. Tran Thai Son, Director of Impact City Social Enterprise Co., Ltd., introduced the Impact City fisheries innovation promotion cooperation model. He stated, "After four years of accompanying the Department of Science and Technology and the contest, we identified several shortcomings that need to be addressed to develop the ecosystem. Hence, the Impact City fisheries innovation promotion cooperation model was established to serve as an intermediary, connecting investment and support from businesses to innovation ideas, thereby strengthening the ecosystem."
The conference also facilitated connections with domestic and international startups in the fisheries sector, aiming to inspire the contest through their stories. Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao shared her project's journey after the FIC 2023 contest, focusing on the value chain of red snapper from production to consumption (second prize in FIC 2023). Following her speech, Seaqure Labs, a Swedish startup, presented their sustainable fish food processing technology using fungi.
Concluding the conference, representatives from the Department of Science and Technology officially launched the Ba Ria - Vung Tau Fisheries Innovation Contest 2024. The event was widely received, with many viewers watching the live stream on the contest's fan page and participating online. We hope this message reaches across Vietnam and to international friends.
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For any inquiries, please contact
Permanent Secretariat of the Contest:
Address: Office of Innovation Startup Promotion, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province (No. 379 Ha Huy Tap Street, Phuoc Trung Ward, Ba Ria City, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province)
Phone: (0254) 3510.874 / 0918.033.272
Email: bantochucficbrvt@gmail.com
Website: https://startup-brvt.vn/ | http://startup.baria-vungtau.gov.vn
Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/Ficbariavungtau
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