On the morning of September 4, a high-profile working session was convened between the Hanoi People’s Committee and leading figures from Singapore’s innovation ecosystem, including H.E. Jaya Ratnam, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Singapore to Vietnam, and Mr. Edward Lim, Director of Block71—a global innovation network founded by the National University of Singapore (NUS).
Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee Truong Viet Dung spoke at the meeting
At the meeting, Vice Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee Mr. Trương Việt Dũng lauded Singapore’s smart city advancements and expressed the capital’s ambition to integrate innovative solutions into its urban development plans. He warmly invited Mr. Lim to return to Hanoi in October to assist in formulating a strategic roadmap for the city’s innovation-driven future.
Ambassador Jaya Ratnam extended congratulations on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s August Revolution and National Day. He emphasized that Vietnam and Singapore now enjoy a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, noting Singapore’s significant investments in Vietnam—especially in Hanoi—and underscoring how technology, science, and innovation offer rich grounds for bilateral cooperation.
Mr. Lim introduced Block71’s global innovation ecosystem, which links incubation hubs across Silicon Valley, China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. To date, Block71 has supported over 1,800 startups—including more than 10 technology “unicorns”—and helped raise upwards of USD 2 billion in venture capital. He announced that from 2025 onwards, Block71 Vietnam will become a key regional node, and that its Ho Chi Minh City hub is currently nurturing nine tech startups in partnership with major Vietnamese universities. Furthermore, Mr. Lim reaffirmed Block71’s commitment to helping Hanoi develop programs that connect startups, enterprises, researchers, and youth—calling on the city to establish special mechanisms to enhance the network’s effectiveness.
Citywide experts also voiced their strong support for Hanoi’s innovation ambitions, noting that the capital’s robust human capital and educational institutions could help translate technological ideas into impactful real-world applications. In response, Vice Chairman Trương Việt Dũng announced that Hanoi’s innovation center will serve not just the city, but also as a vital national and international innovation gateway. He particularly invited major institutions such as Hanoi University of Science and Technology to join this collaborative effort.
Ambassador Jaya Ratnam
Notably, the meeting also featured the participation of the director of V-International Marketing & Business Services Co., Ltd., who joined this gathering of government leaders and international innovation figures to underscore V-International’s role as a strategic business facilitator. Although not mentioned in official press releases, her presence highlighted the company’s capacity to work at the intersection of public-private and international collaboration, facilitating meaningful engagement between Hanoi and global innovation partners.
Source: hanoi.gov.vn