Vietnam-based technology hub ‘Kiwi Connection’ had seen more than 100 entrepreneurs from New Zealand come on board to expand business opportunities in South-East Asia in its first nine months.

Technology hub Kiwi Connection is allowing New Zealanders access to major South-East Asian markets, boosting opportunities for the nation in sourcing investment capital and attracting talent that cannot be found at home, according the hub’s director.

Kiwi Connection director, Mitchell Pham, said that an Asia-based opening for New Zealand entrepreneurs provided a major step forward for the nation to cement its position as a strong Oceanic nation for fintech.

“We are providing a vital bridge for Kiwi tech businesses to speed-up entry and business growth in South East Asia, where there is a huge and rapidly growing pool of talent, capital, customers as well as massive digital economy and consumption appetite,” he said.

Kiwi Connection, a joint partnership between Augen Software, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, would conduct a business trip to Vietnam and Thailand.

“The trail-blazing visit in August will be led by ASEAN-New Zealand Business Council in collaboration with ExportNZ, KEA and the Kiwi Connection Tech Hub and with support from NZTE, MFAT and the Asia New Zealand Foundation,” Pham said.

“Kiwi fintech business leaders who will attend the regional fintech conference in Singapore [can] connect with the rapidly growing Vietnam market in November.”

Pham said that the New Zealand government’s inclusion of tech sector and digital exports in the recently released NZ Trade Agenda 2030 meant that local initiatives to encourage entrepreneurs would need to be increasingly accessible moving forward.