Under the theme "Ring the bell: For a prosperous economy", the forum attracted nearly 200 delegates from the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), embassies, and international organisations, as well as businesses’ associations and clubs, and outstanding female businesses across the country.
Speaking at the event, VCCI President Vu Tien Loc emphasised that a core aspect of Vietnam’s competitiveness in a volatile world is the resilience of Vietnamese businesses, particularly those owned by women, who led their businesses in remaining firm despite the COVIS-19 pandemic while ensuring stable jobs for thousands of workers.
Nguyen Thi Tuyet Minh, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council, said that the economy and businesses in particular will not thrive nor develop sustainably without a solid foundation in gender equality, as well as the active, responsible and creative participation of women.
For her part, UN Women's Chief Representative in Vietnam Elisa Fernandez Saenz assessed that as half of the world's population are women, an economy that does not fully take advantage of women’s capacity will waste half of its human resources. Making full use of the economic potential of women is not only a social responsibility, but also a smart economic strategy, she stressed.
Gender equality is both a development goal and a factor that enhances women's ability to contribute to the sustainable development of each country. In the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, gender equality and women's empowerment are not only a goal but also part of the solution to the realisation of other sustainable development goals and a factor contributing to the prosperity of society.
