Hanoi (VNA) – A seminar was held in Hanoi on August 20 to seek solutions that enable young people with disabilities to start businesses, thereby improving their lives both physically and mentally while creating positive impacts for those around them, especially peers in similar circumstances.
Nguyen Thi Thuy Chi, who currently runs a social enterprise founded by people living with brain injuries, shared that persons with disabilities face numerous challenges, requiring persistence and discipline to overcome. She emphasised the importance of continuous learning and mastering technology, AI, and e-commerce as essential tools for entrepreneurship and value creation. At the same time, she called for mechanisms to help people with disabilities access regulations, capital, and support schemes more equitably.
Nguyen Lam Thanh, representative of TikTok Vietnam, stressed that the greatest challenge lies not in the absence of policies but in ensuring that those in need can access them. He noted that technology offers the key to bridging gaps in information and opportunities. Platforms such as TikTok, he added, can serve as effective bridges to disseminate government policies, showcase successful business models, and inspire communities. They also provide opportunities to young people with disabilities to build personal brands, market products, and directly connect with customers without being hindered by geographical or physical barriers.
Nguyen Phan Huy Khoi, Director of the Supporting Centre for Youth's Startup, underscored that science and technology are crucial for sustainable entrepreneurship among persons with disabilities. He said enhancing digital skills must be a top priority. To this end, the centre has offers free training courses in AI, the digital economy, and e-commerce for young people, including those with disabilities.
Within just three months, more than 10,000 people have been trained. The centre is also designing tailored training programmes to meet the needs and capacities of persons with disabilities, supporting online business development, linking them with banks, and introducing affiliate marketing models to open new income-generating opportunities and empower them to assert their value.
According to Dinh Thi Thuy, Head of the Division for Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Health’s Department of Social Protection, the Party and State have always paid attention to persons with disabilities and issued numerous supportive policies. Under Decree No. 74/2019/ND-CP, individuals with disabilities can borrow up to 100 million VND (3,789 USD), while production and business establishments may access loans of up to 2 billion VND. The Ministry of Home Affairs is currently revising the decree, and if approved by the Government, the ceiling will double for individuals (200 million VND) and increase fivefold for establishments (10 billion VND).
She added that persons with disabilities who gain employment will continue to receive social allowances, while health insurance has been fully provided for those with severe and extremely severe disabilities, with plans to expand coverage to those with milder impairments to reduce cost for employers.
Pham Van Thanh, President of the Vietnam Youth with Disabilities Association, pointed out that entrepreneurship is inherently challenging, and the barriers are even greater for young people with disabilities, spanning not only access to capital, technology, and knowledge but also social prejudice.
The seminar was thus seen as a practical opportunity for young persons with disabilities to demonstrate their capabilities, creativity, and initiative in integration while contributing to the nation’s development. By connecting knowledge, finance, and markets, the programme aims to encourage young people to turn their dreams into reality, achieve self-reliance, and spread their determination and resilience throughout the community./.
