HCM City (VNA) – Thirteen young entrepreneurs from 10 ASEAN member countries and three dialogue partners were presented the ♏ASEAN+3 award in rec🥀ognition of their contribution to regional sustainable development at a ceremony on December 13 in Ho Chi Minh City.

The award aims to encourage young businesspeople to focus more on community-driven and sustainable development in their business operation, said Pham Phuong Chi, Vice President of the Vietnam Youth Federation. They are also expected to enhance the mutual understanding among the young business circles in the ASEAN bloc and the ASEAN+3, thus fostering their cooperation and experience sharing for the sustainable development of each nation, the region and the world. The ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The three dialogue partner countries are Republic of Korea, Japan and China. To receive the award, candidates should be one of the founders of young businesses or start-ups. Priority is given to those operating in job creation, education, health care or social services. Other criteria also include environmentally-friendly products, creativity and advanced technology application and local potential relevancy. The awards event was jointly organised for the first time as part of the ASEAN+3 Young Entrepreneur Forum by the National Committee on Youth of Vietnam, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Vietnam Youth Federation. It saw the participation of 65 young businessmen from 10 ASEAN member nations and three dialogue partners.-VNA