On November 10, the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, Arizona State University, National Instruments, and FabLab Saigon co-organized the first ever Maker Movement Promotion Forum 2015 themed “Developing the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem for Vietnam.”
The forum brought together entrepreneurs and representatives of small and medium enterprises, industry, government, academia and a large number of students. According to U.S. Consul General Rena Bitter, the forum aimed to raise awareness of the Maker Movement and how it can foster entrepreneurship, create economic value, and drive science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics development in Vietnam. “The U.S. Government and I would like to continue to support Vietnam in various areas, notably economic cooperation. Empowering people to innovate and nurturing innovation are an incredibly powerful economic driver. Our economic cooperation has been a critical component in the growth of our relationship. It will be even more so in the future particularly as Vietnam has become one of the 12 TPP countries” stressed Ms. Rena Bitter. Dr. Vu Van Kiem, Chief Representative of Ministry of Science and Technology for Southern Vietnam, expressed thanks to the U.S. Government and Ms. Rena Bitter for their support. “Vietnam is rich in natural and human resources but we have yet to achieve the expected economic indicators. Vietnamese people is very creative but how to nurture innovative ideas and use them to serve the society is still an open question for the Vietnamese government, experts and the youth.
The U.S. Government’s efforts will help elevate the relationship between the two countries and peoples to a new height.”