Viet Nam has committed to encouraging more women entrepreneurs to participate in the global value chain, Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan said yesterday at a forum in Ha Noi.

The 2015 ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Forum (AWEF), titled ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs in AEC: Transforming Opportunities into Realities, focused on preparing for the coming ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). The AEC will start operating at the end of this year, bringing both opportunities and challenges for budding enterprises, especially.

The forum was held as part of the ASEAN Women Entrepreneur Network (AWEN). It was organised by the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI); the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs; and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The organisers aimed to create more opportunities for women entrepreneurs in the region.

To utilise the business climate created by the new AEC, women entrepreneurs must be creative in analyzing and forecasting business climates, Doan said. They must also focus on improving their competitive capacity.

Vu Tien Loc, chairman of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), said that to achieve success in their endeavours women had to work twice or three times harder than men. Thus, the Government would need to create more programmes to improve womens' capacity, working conditions and opportunities, Loc said.

On Thursday, Doan met with female pioneers in international economic integration for the occasion of the 105th International Women's Day, officially celebrated on Sunday.

Viet Nam is currently home to about 500,000 businesses, more than 100,000 of which are owned or run by women.

On the same day, Doan received 98 Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, People's Armed Force Heroes and Labour Heroes in the American resistance war.

Doan thanked the participants for their great contribution to the country and affirmed the State and Party's appreciation.

Female diplomats gather

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a cultural exchange for foreign female diplomats in the northern province of Bac Ninh on Thursday ahead of International Women's Day (today, March 8).

Assistant to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Duong Chi Dung, thanked the diplomats for fostering friendly ties with Viet Nam, saying this laid a good foundation for the country's sustainable development and international integration.

On behalf of the guests, Iraida de Rondon, spouse of the Venezuelan Ambassador, thanked the ministry and the locality for the warm reception.

She also said she hoped to be able to take part in more friendship activities in Viet Nam.

Participants enjoyed a performance of Quan Ho (love-duet, Bac Ninh's unique folk art that has been recognised as part of the world's Intangible Cultural Heritage.

They also studied the process of making Dong Ho paintings, the traditional home decorations during the Lunar New Year festival.

He-For-She campaign

The He-For-She campaign, designed to encourage men and boys to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, was launched in Ha Noi yesterday to mark International Women's Day.

The campaign, from March to October, will be run by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and the Viet Nam Volunteer Information Resource Centre.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Shoko Ishikawa, a representative from the UN Women in Viet Nam, said the campaign aimed to call on everyone to join in the efforts.

Since the movement began last September in New York, many heads of state, chief executive officers of multinational groups, and thousands of men from 169 countries worldwide have pledged to become pioneers in the drive.

The campaign has stimulated many dialogues and debates on social media and is creating promising changes in the global gender equality movement. 

VNS