GREEN ECONOMY

Youth – The Driving Force of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Green and Digital Economy

In the global trend of digital transformation and green growth, Vietnamese youth are seen as pioneers, playing a vital role in shaping creative and breakthrough solutions. With this spirit, the conference “Promoting Innovation and Entrepreneurship of Youth in the Green and Digital Economy” took place in Can Tho on August 26–27, 2025. The event, jointly organized by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) Vietnam and the Can Tho Union of Friendship Organizations (CUFO), brought together experts, businesses, policymakers, as well as a vibrant community of students and young people from across the Mekong Delta.

Over two days, the event provided not only in-depth presentations and practical knowledge but also served as a dynamic forum where entrepreneurial stories were shared, new ideas emerged, and confidence in the role of the younger generation was strongly reinforced.

Youth at the Crossroads of Innovation

Vietnam today has about 20 million young people aged 16–30, accounting for nearly a quarter of the population – a tremendous resource for innovation and entrepreneurship. This generation is tech-savvy, adaptable, and eager to take risks. Yet, they also face major barriers: lack of capital, limited networks, and difficulties in accessing markets.

A particularly pressing challenge is the declining interest of young people in agriculture, as many move to pursue opportunities in industry and services. Against this backdrop, the Mekong Delta stands out as both a region under severe threat from climate change and a land rich with opportunities for green and digital entrepreneurship. Providing 50% of Vietnam’s rice, 65% of its seafood, and 70% of its fruit, the Delta is not only the nation’s “food basket” but also a fertile ground for youth-led, locally rooted business models.

Stories from the Ground

What made the conference truly engaging were the authentic entrepreneurial journeys:

• From wild fruit to nutritious product: Mr. Pham Ngoc Da, Director of the Organic Development Agriculture Cooperative, shared his three-year journey of turning the little-known Lekima fruit into a dried powder rich in nutrients. “Startups must be different,” he emphasized, underscoring the value of perseverance and innovation.
• Local specialties reaching broader markets: Entrepreneur Huynh Thi Kieu Tien, Director of Quang Dang Private Enterprise, introduced Probilife rice milk, made from purple rice. By applying advanced sterilization technology, the product achieves long shelf life without preservatives – a solution that allows local specialties to enter wider markets.
• Students bringing technology to rice fields: The EcoTraceTech team from Can Tho University, winners of the CTU Startup 2025 competition, developed a system to measure CO₂ and CH₄ emissions from rice cultivation in real time. Team representative Le Lu Huyen Tran reflected: “Through competitions and real-world challenges, our product is growing just as we are.”

These stories illustrate that green and digital entrepreneurship is no longer a slogan but is taking shape through tangible products and initiatives driven by young people.

Knowledge and Inspiration from Experts

Alongside these stories, the conference also equipped participants with essential knowledge – from building personal branding and applying AI in e-commerce to exploring concepts of green economy, circular agriculture, and carbon credits. Such knowledge not only broadens perspectives but also points to pathways for youth to engage more deeply in global value chains.

According to Vietnam’s 2020 Climate Change Scenarios, the Mekong Delta could lose up to 50% of its agricultural without effective adaptation. This stark reality underscores that innovation linked to green and digital transformation is not a choice, but a necessity.

Pathways for Youth Entrepreneurship

From the discussions, several promising directions for youth entrepreneurship in the Mekong Delta emerged:

• Value-added agricultural processing: Leveraging the region’s rice, seafood, and fruit to move beyond raw exports and increase value.
• Utilizing agricultural by-products: Transforming rice husks or straw into organic fertilizers, green materials, and bioenergy.
• Applying digital and AI solutions: Optimizing production, enabling traceability, managing smart supply chains, and expanding e-commerce.
• Tackling logistics bottlenecks: High transportation costs remain a major obstacle for Delta products. Innovative digital and green logistics solutions are essential to improve competitiveness.

What ties these directions together is their strong grounding in local realities – transforming challenges into opportunities.

Youth – The Core of Change

A key message resonating throughout the conference was that youth are not just participants but potential leaders of change. With their energy, creativity, and command of technology, they stand at the heart of green and digital transformation. The connections built at the event strengthened their confidence and knowledge, inspiring them to continue their entrepreneurial journey — a path filled with challenges, yet brimming with opportunities to shape a sustainable future for the Mekong Delta and Vietnam

Looking Ahead – A Continuing Journey

This youth entrepreneurship conference was only the starting point of a series of three activities in the Mekong region. Coming next is the conference “Empowering Women in the Digital and Green Economy, Digital Transformation, and Entrepreneurship”, followed by a study tour to explore practical models of green and digital transformation in small and medium-sized enterprises.

These activities are more than just knowledge-sharing events. Together, they form a journey of connection and inspiration, where youth, women, and businesses join hands to pave the way for innovation and sustainable development in a region full of both challenges and promise.