Recently, a €166,544.68 project (220,000 usd) entitled “Capacity Building for Sustainable Development, Trade and Export Promotion for Members of Hanoi Women Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (HAWASME)” was launched in Hanoi.
Ambassador Pekka Hyvönen and Chairwoman Mrs Mai Thi Thuy from HAWASME signed the cooperation agreement today at the Embassy of Finland.
This is the first time the Embassy of Finland in Hanoi is funding capacity building for sustainable development, trade and export promotion for members of the women’s entrepreneur association. The project will begin in October 2010 and last until 2012.
The two-year capacity building project ensures that the capacity of HAWASME’s members will be improved for sustainable development, including strengthening their businesses competitiveness, having new business opportunities, promoting exports and overcoming difficulties.
Vietnam continues to develop rapidly and is becoming a middle income country. Apart from the traditional ODA support, there is a need to foster new kinds of partnerships between Finland and Vietnam. When building active commercial, trade and institutional relations between the two countries, the private sector has a key role to play. The right kind of private sector guidance and partnerships are important also in helping Vietnam to move towards more skill-intensive and knowledge based activities and to take advantage of new and environmentally-friendly technologies.
“All over the developing world one sees more and more of the importance of private partnerships and support for enterprises leading to sustainable growth and development,” said the Ambassador of Finland Pekka Hyvönen in the signing ceremony of the two year agreement. “In the midst of the Hanoi - Thang Long Millennium celebrations, this project will turn a new millennium for the Hanoi Women Association of Small and Medium Enterprises and their over 2000 member companies,” he continued.
Over 2000 members of HAWASME will directly benefit from consultancy and training services provided through this project. They will be equipped with knowledge on relevant business laws, business management, leadership skills, gender equality in businesses and families, as well as import and export opportunities to Finland, the EU and other markets. 540 - 810 selected members of the Association will benefit from 9 different soft skill training courses on various topics helpful for their capacity building and sustainable development.
As part of the project, 22 members of the Association will participate in a study trip to Finland that will enable them to have good knowledge on Finland’s needs for import, and to develop business opportunities with Finnish companies.
The third component of the project will entail a Trade Fair where 150 – 180 member companies will participate together with Finnish companies. 100 member companies will attend business workshops and seminars through which a network between Vietnamese and Finnish companies will be set up. In addition, HAWASME’s consultancy, training and management skills will be improved to better support their members.
Thi Van
Vietnamese
