VCCI, VWEC, World Bank honour women entrepreneurs

The forum, themed “Turning competitive advantage into integration strength”, was a chance for women entrepreneurs to meet and share experience in management especially in the context that Vietnam is integrating deeper into the world economy with the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community at the end of this year and the signing and coming into effects of some free trade agreements, and the possible signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Experts at the forum provided the entrepreneurs with information on these free trade agreements, analysed the advantages and challenges they are going to bring about, and how Vietnamese companies can position themselves in the global value chain, and make use of the strengths they already have and raise their competitiveness in order to make use of these advantages as well as overcome the challenges.

“Women entrepreneurs are an important force in the development of the country,” said VCCI chairman Vu Tien Loc. “Vietnamese companies led by women create wealth and at the same time employment and opportunities for many, especially women.”

“The success of women entrepreneurs is crucial to the success of Vietnam’s private sector,” said Victoria Kwakwa, WB’s country director for Vietnam.

The forum also gave awards to exemplary women entrepreneurs. The awards aimed to encourage women entrepreneurs to continue keeping their passion for business and contribute more and more to the development of Vietnam, according to chairman of the VWEC Nguyen Thi Tuyet Minh.

“Vietnamese women entrepreneurs have established themselves in the modernising of the country, and they will sure succeed as the country integrates with the world economy,” she said.

The Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council, established in 2001, represents women entrepreneurs and entrepresises and business organisations including associations and clubs owned or managed by women in all economic sectors nationwide.