Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh spoke at ASEAN BIS 2024 (Photo: VNA)

At the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ASEAN BIS) 2024, held from October 8 to 11 in Vientiane, Laos, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered an important speech, focusing on business development orientations in the ASEAN region.

The event attracted more than 800 major business leaders from the region and the world, along with senior leaders from many countries, including the Lao Prime Minister, the President of the Philippines, and leaders from partner countries such as Canada, New Zealand and the European Union.

With the theme “Enhancing Connectivity and Economic Resilience”, ASEAN BIS 2024 is the largest business-related forum in Southeast Asia, organized by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC). This conference focused on discussing six priority areas, including: digital transformation, sustainable development, health sector recovery, food security, trade and investment facilitation, and supply chain integration.

Prime Minister: “Enterprises are the pillars of development”

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh began his speech by thanking the warm welcome from the host country Laos and the 2024 ASEAN Chair, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone. He affirmed that in the context of many fluctuations in the world, ASEAN remains the center of growth thanks to the spirit of “self-reliance and self-reliance”. The Prime Minister also emphasized the important role of ASEAN enterprises, which are the core force contributing to the overall success of the bloc.

The Prime Minister called on the business community and entrepreneurs in the region to implement “5 pioneers” to promote sustainable development and integration (Photo: VNA)

In particular, the Prime Minister called on the business community and entrepreneurs in the region to implement “5 pioneers” to promote sustainable development and integration. Specifically, he suggested that businesses:

First, pioneer in contributing to a resilient ASEAN: Businesses need to participate in solving global issues such as climate change, digital transformation and green transformation. Emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things are also considered driving forces for development.

Second, pioneer in promoting economic connectivity: Businesses need to participate in building infrastructure connecting countries, including soft connections such as institutions, policies, and hard connections in transportation, energy and digital infrastructure.

Third, pioneering the development of science, technology and innovation: This is especially important in the context of ASEAN countries facing aging populations, natural disasters and epidemics. Enterprises need to overcome the negative aspects of technological development, especially the issue of cyber security.

Fourth, pioneering in building strategic infrastructure: The Prime Minister emphasized the need to build policies, improve governance capacity and mobilize resources for infrastructure development, to support enterprises in deep integration.

Finally, pioneering in international integration: The Prime Minister recommended that ASEAN enterprises continuously strengthen cooperation with the world, honor multilateralism, international solidarity and bring benefits to all people.

ASEAN BAC Vietnam Chairman, VCCI Vice Chairman Nguyen Quang Vinh, emphasized the role of the Vietnamese government in supporting businesses (Photo: Truong Dang)

Vietnam in promoting ASEAN trade and investment

Within the framework of ASEAN BIS 2024, the strong participation and commitment of the Vietnamese Prime Minister demonstrates the determination to promote regional cooperation and create the most favorable conditions for businesses, contributing to building a resilient and sustainable ASEAN.

The Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam is implementing three strategic breakthroughs to improve the investment environment: perfecting institutions, developing strategic infrastructure, and training high-quality human resources. The Vietnamese government is committed to creating a favorable environment for businesses to develop, not only domestically but also in the ASEAN region and the world.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed Vietnam's commitment to continuing to improve the investment environment, especially in high-tech sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductor chip manufacturing, and digital transformation. The Prime Minister also called on international businesses to continue investing in Vietnam and cooperating in the spirit of "4 together": "Listening and understanding together", "sharing vision and action together", "doing together, winning together, enjoying together", and "developing together".

Also speaking at the conference, Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh, Chairman of ASEAN BAC Vietnam, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), emphasized the role of the Vietnamese government in supporting businesses.

He affirmed that under the leadership of the Vietnamese Government, Vietnam has had many policies with the spirit of "a creative government, accompanying businesses", "harmonizing interests, sharing risks" to improve the business and investment environment, contributing to creating a strong economy and prosperous society.

"The Prime Minister's participation in ASEAN BIS today not only demonstrates his deep interest in the development of the Vietnamese and ASEAN business communities, but also affirms the commitment of the Vietnamese Government in promoting trade and investment liberalization in the region, which is a great encouragement to help the business community and entrepreneurs do better business - a better world", the Chairman of ASEAN BAC Vietnam affirmed.