VietNamNet Bridge - The 2nd APEC Policy Partnership Conference on Women and Economics and the Public – Private Dialogue on Women and Economics (PPDWE) are two important events of the APEC Forum for Women and Economics 2017.

Strengthening economic empowerment of women

At the 2nd APEC Policy Partnership Conference on Women and Economics, delegates from 21 APEC economies agreed that the goal of ensuring gender equality remains a cross-cutting issue and needs to be implemented in all areas and at all APEC forums in order to increase the participation of women and promote the economic potential of women in the changing world.

Regarding the main results of the APEC Forum on Women and Economics 2017, Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Hong Lan, head of the Vietnamese delegation, said many leaders from APEC member economies demonstrated the interest and commitment of the international community to women and economics, particularly the commitments and programs of action in the coming time of APEC economies. The support and commitment of APEC economies has promoted the implementation of the rights of women, especially women in business, and women with economies in the future. 

Speaking to representatives from 21 APEC economies at the workshop, Ms. Hong Lan emphasized that the development and implementation of gender-responsive policies and programs in APEC should be implemented to strengthen collaboration and coordination of the gender quality issues at forums, towards the socio-economic advancement of women and gender equality in the region.

Thus, Vietnam has developed the theme of "Strengthening the integration and enhancement of economic empowerment of women in a changing world" with three priorities: promoting gender equality for inclusive economic growth; enhancing the competitiveness and creativity of micro, small and medium enterprises owned by women; and bridging the gender gap in human resource development. The forum this year has made many proposals and initiatives to contribute to the APEC 2017 Women and Economic Forum in particular and APEC Vietnam 2017 in general.

Vietnam’s initiative on "Guidance on gender coordination in APEC" was approved by the participants. Participants in the Forum jointly affirmed that this is an important tool for implementing programs and policies on gender equality in APEC.

APEC Public and Private Dialogue on Women and Economics

Recognizing the impressive achievements of women and economics, in another move, delegates from 21 economies participating in the "Public-Private Partnership on Women and Economics" (PPDWE) exchanged and shared experiences on strengthening the economic, financial and social integration of women and number of female entrepreneurs in the changing global market; fostering the development of women entrepreneurs in the digital age; and building a vision for enhancing economic empowerment of women in the APEC economies and around the world.

As a person who has many activities with businesses, Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vu Tien Loc talked about the role and position of Vietnamese women in the economy. According to Mr. Loc, the potential of Vietnamese women and APEC women is still great. And he said that the world economy is in the process of restructuring in the digital era, requiring smarter policy, and better policies for women. 

Small and medium-sized businesses and women owned businesses will be the main engines, the owners of the economy. The Chair of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry emphasized that women are reliable business partners and suggested that in the coming time, APEC needs to build a strong network of female entrepreneurs and organize annual public-private dialogues on women and economics.

At the event, Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh highlighted four important issues: First, increasing women's participation and contribution will create new drivers for sustainable, creative and inclusive growth. Second, the urgent need is to increase the inclusive economics, financial and social development of women. Third, in the context of changing global job market, which creates challenges for women entrepreneurs and women workers, it is necessary to create favorable environment to urge women entrepreneurs to have access to capital, assets, experience and global markets, while enhancing the competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises and those owned by women. Fourth, it is time to identify long-term orientations for APEC cooperation on women, contributing to efforts to accelerate the achievement of APEC goals and the development of APEC's new vision after 2020.

In fact, only women themselves can decide what they need to do to meet the growing demands of the economy in the changing world. And APEC 2017 will inspire women to continue to assert economic power in the global and regional development.

Bich Van