Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic has convened with government leaders from across the Indo-Pacific at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress 2023 (GEC 2023) to explore ways of bolstering opportunities for global entrepreneurship and innovation, particularly in advanced manufacturing.
This international event, attended by representatives from approximately 170 countries, aims to facilitate stronger collaborations among entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, researchers, and governments.
The objective is to create an environment conducive to entrepreneurial success, job creation, innovation acceleration, and economic growth, the government said in a media release.
During GEC 2023, Minister Ed Husic highlighted the importance of supporting entrepreneurs and ensuring that the systems and mechanisms sustaining them are as effective as possible.
In particular, the minister engaged in discussions with science and technology Ministers and representatives from Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines. These discussions centred on policy strategies to support a thriving entrepreneurial economy.
Key attendees included Huynh Thanh Dat, Vietnamese Minister for Science and Technology; Mahadhir Aziz, CEO of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation; and Antonio Mauricio, general manager of the Philippine National Development.
Topics covered in these conversations ranged from the significance of large-scale collaborative research initiatives to the importance of regulatory conditions that foster entrepreneurship and the necessity of targeted government support for specific economic sectors.
Australia’s commitment to fostering innovation includes the allocation of funds to initiatives such as the $392 million Industry Growth Program and the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund.
These programs focus on leveraging Australia’s strengths in areas like clean energy, robotics, and medical science, among other advanced technologies.
Australia and Vietnam have marked 50 years of diplomatic relations and have a history of close cooperation in scientific engagement. A treaty-level Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, signed in June 2013, established the Joint Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, facilitating collaboration between the two countries.
The Global Entrepreneurship Congress, organised annually by the Global Entrepreneurship Network, serves as a platform to explore the latest programs, policies, and efforts aimed at supporting entrepreneurs in their endeavours. This year marks the first time the event has been held in Australia.
Minister Husic also celebrated the 50-year anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam, emphasising the commitment to working closely with Southeast Asian partners to promote global entrepreneurship and innovation.
