Final article: Encouraging young people to establish themselves and their careers.
Entrepreneurship has become a "hot trend," a major playing field attracting a large number of young people. However, to encourage and stimulate the legitimate entrepreneurial spirit of young people, the Youth Union and Party committees at all levels need to pay attention to supporting this force by providing them with favorable mechanisms and policies. At the same time, they need to help overcome difficulties and shortcomings so that young people can start and develop their businesses more effectively.
MANY ACTIVITIES TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE
Currently, Nghe An province has over 700,000 youth union members, accounting for nearly 25% of the province's total population; however, the employment rate and stable employment rate are only about 60%. Each year, the province's universities, colleges, and vocational schools train 19,000-20,000 students, with approximately 20,000 graduates currently unemployed. In recent years, youth support activities have received significant attention, with a focus on building an innovative startup ecosystem.
Competition "Startup ideas and projects among young people in Nghe An province.This has become an annual activity aimed at identifying, nurturing, and training high-quality human resources. This activity has inspired and motivated young people to be confident in their work and production, striving to achieve legitimate wealth in their homeland. Through this, support is strengthened, and effective youth economic models are replicated locally; projects that have won high awards in skills competitions are reviewed and selected to focus resources on supporting and developing them into sustainable model projects.
From these meaningful programs, dozens of youth union members have come up with effective startup ideas each year. In Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district, as April and May arrive, which is also the lotus blooming season, the production and business activities of the "Lotus of Uncle Ho's Homeland" Cooperative, owned by 9X entrepreneur Pham Kim Tien, are bustling with activity. Pham Kim Tien's Lotus of Uncle Ho's Homeland Cooperative is one of the outstanding economic models of youth union members in Nghe An in 2023.
Besides the lotus-growing model from Uncle Ho's hometown, other successful startup models include: the traditional fish sauce production model of Ms. Phan Thi Hong Thoa - Secretary of the Youth Union of Block 3, Nghi Hoa Ward, Cua Lo Town; the cage fish farming model of Youth Union member Nguyen Van Thanh - Dong Tien Block, Nghi Thuy Ward, Cua Lo Town; and the greenhouse melon cultivation model of young man Nguyen Chinh Son - Dong Son Hamlet, Nghi Yen Commune, Nghi Loc District… These are effective startup economic models that generate high revenues of billions of VND per year and create jobs for dozens of local workers.
In addition, the Youth Union and Youth Association branches at all levels in the province have also developed many meaningful programs to help students and young people access investment capital and seek startup opportunities, such as: awarding and introducing students who have achieved the titles of "Excellent Student" and "January Star" at universities and colleges to businesses in the area; organizing short-term vocational training for students; coordinating with the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and vocational centers to organize vocational training for young people in fields such as: garment making, export-oriented rattan and bamboo weaving, shrimp farming, brocade weaving, veterinary medicine, carpentry, mushroom cultivation, raw material cultivation, etc., suitable to the actual conditions in each locality and unit...
Joining hands to encourage young people to start businesses is the participation of the Nghe An Provincial Youth Development Support Center. The Center has developed and issued a plan to establish the Nghe An Provincial Youth Entrepreneurship Club. This club has played a role in connecting young people with the will and aspirations to start businesses.economic developmentThey also exchange ideas and support each other in boldly starting businesses. Important support provided by the club includes accessing and implementing youth economic development models that utilize science and technology, green production models, and the production of environmentally friendly products. Regular discussions during club activities often involve providing technical guidance on cultivation, preservation according to hygiene and food safety standards for production, farming, livestock, and food processing facilities owned by young people. They also focus on improving the quality and efficiency of youth cooperatives, exhibiting youth startup booths, transferring technology, and poverty reduction for youth union members and officials.
At other specialized units such as the Phuc Son Social Labor Education Center, vocational training for those recovering from drug addiction is also emphasized. Mr. Le Tien Dung, the center's director, said: "Every year, the center receives and trains nearly 100 trainees in post-rehabilitation skills, mainly in carpentry, gold plating, and welding. The center's products are sold in many places, helping trainees find employment, increase their income, and promote the entrepreneurial spirit of reformed youth after leaving the center."
In 2023, Nghe An province had two members who received the Luong Dinh Cua Award from the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union for their outstanding achievements in business and production, actively contributing to the socio-economic development of the locality: Ms. Tran Thi Hong Tham - Director of ABACA Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Quynh Luu district) and Mr. Pham Van Tuan - Director of Me Nam Nghia Cooperative (Nam Dan district).
REMOVING DIFFICULTIES AND PROMOTING SUPPORT POLICIES
Through accompanying youth union members in developing businesses and implementing creative startup ideas, the Youth Union at all levels, as well as the Party committees and authorities of Nghe An province, have understood the difficulties and obstacles that need to be addressed by supporting this force. At the same time, they have maximized the effectiveness of mechanisms and policies to encourage youth union members to start businesses.
Therefore, every year the Provincial Youth Union coordinates with departments, agencies, and local authorities to organize dialogues between provincial leaders and young people to understand and listen to the thoughts, aspirations, suggestions, and proposals of young people in many fields, especially in economic development and supporting young people in starting and developing businesses. For example, at the Dialogue Conference between provincial leaders and young people in March 2023, among the many topics discussed, issues related to economic development and policies that create conditions and encourage young people to be creative and start businesses accounted for the majority of the questions.
For example, at this conference, Youth Union member Pham Van Long - Chairman of the Youth Economic Development Club of Tan Thanh commune (Yen Thanh district) - expressed his wish that relevant departments and localities would provide more guidance and support to young people in promoting policies on land-use conversion to build economic models, farms, and family farms. Responding to Mr. Pham Van Long's opinion, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee stated that he would direct relevant departments and report to the Provincial People's Council to create the most favorable conditions for land-use conversion, including the conversion of rice land and agricultural land for the construction of models and the establishment of farms by young people.
Currently, a significant issue affecting the development of production, business, and entrepreneurship in the locality is the frequent turnover of youth union members, mainly due to the large number of young workers leaving to work elsewhere.
After graduating from high school, or even middle school like in our mountainous districts, most young people leave their hometowns to find work in other areas. This leads to a shortage of local labor. Opportunities for activism, starting businesses, and engaging in economic activities are also limited.”
Mr. Ly Ba Thai - Deputy Secretary of the Ky Son District Party Committee
Not only in Ky Son district, but also in other districts and towns of Nghe An province, the phenomenon of young workers leaving their hometowns for work elsewhere is a common reality. Therefore, through dialogue and exchange conferences between various levels and sectors with youth union members, and at job fairs, the orientation of youth union members to find jobs in industrial zones and economic zones within the province and districts is also a focus of attention for all levels and sectors.
Furthermore, the available loan capital to meet the needs of young entrepreneurs is still limited, with each business model receiving only 50-100 million VND in loans. Therefore, investment is restricted, especially the investment in high technology for production and business in youth-led economic models, which is still relatively low.
“Although the production and business process has been initially favorable, there are still many difficulties, such as capital and renting premises... There is a need for dialogue forums between young entrepreneurs and business owners, and those who have started or are starting businesses; encouraging entrepreneurial ideas for students while they are still in school. Support and open basic foundational classes on economic law and finance for local youth. Support in overcoming initial difficulties, guiding and disseminating information to help many people understand policies and laws, fire safety, land policies… for young entrepreneurs and young businesses,” shared Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, owner of Begen sock manufacturing business in Nghia Dan.
There is a need for dialogue forums between young people and business owners, those who have started or are starting businesses; encouraging entrepreneurial ideas for students even while they are still in school.”
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh - owner of Begen sock manufacturing business, Nghia Dan district.
To promote the entrepreneurial spirit among youth union members, Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thuy, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Youth Union, suggested building a mechanism to create linkages between production and consumption to support young people in starting and establishing businesses in the locality. Support and career guidance should be provided to: young military personnel returning to their localities after completing their military service, young people returning from overseas labor export, and young people reintegrating into the community after serving prison sentences. Policies should be implemented to replicate exemplary economic development models for young people in the locality, developing the potential and advantages of the region, thereby creating sustainable livelihoods. In particular, solutions should be found to facilitate more access to preferential loans for young people to start businesses.
Annually, the Provincial Youth Union Standing Committee implements activities to consult and propose policies on entrepreneurship for young people, and organizes forums on entrepreneurship and innovation among youth. In 2023, the entire province held 6 conferences organized by the Youth Union; 35 youth innovation forums attracted 4,500 young people. Nine youth ideas and initiatives received support for implementation with a support value of nearly 400 million VND; 18 innovative initiatives and solutions in labor, production, and business generated a profit of 800 million VND.
