Loship, an innovative local food delivery and e-commerce startup, has recently announced the completion of a Pre-Series C funding round of up to $12 million. The company is also one of four Vietnamese startups on Forbes’ list of 100 desirable startups and small companies in the Asia-Pacific region.

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Trung, CEO of Loship, told VnEconomy that the popularity of technology, smartphones, and e-wallets, the impact of Covid-19, and the preference of younger generations to use online services have significantly changed the consumption habits of Vietnamese people towards door-to-door delivery. This is considered good news for companies operating in e-commerce, shipping, and last-mile delivery. Even when the pandemic is brought under control, Mr. Trung believes that user demand for door-to-door delivery will remain unchanged. The continuous flow of foreign investment into the country and the entry of new applications will develop the market even further, which will help boost the growth of delivery services.

Vietnam is the equal of other regional countries in terms of labor quality, infrastructure, and political stability, and Mr. Trung believes it won’t take too long for the country to break through and rise to the top of the region.

As a startup achieving a lot of success, Mr. Trung said an initial public offering (IPO) is an important milestone Loship is aiming for in the next three years, together with focusing on boosting its B2B activities.

He believes that the government has been making every effort to promote growth in the digital economy and to help the business environment attract foreign investment. In the context of the market being under the influence of foreign players, however, the government needs to pay more attention to local startups and view them as the future of the country’s economic growth, not just part of the economy.