In the framework of the ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) Work Plan for 2011-2015, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs recently launched an initiative to coordinate with ASEAN member countries and the ASEAN Secretariat to support the establishment of the ASEAN Women's Entrepreneurship Network (AWEN). The Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council (VWEC) under the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) assumed the AWEN chairmanship for the first two-year term (2014-2016).
In celebrating the 106th anniversary of International Women's Day - March 8, continuing the success of the first ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Forum in March 2015 and holding the ambition of connecting networks and enhancing the capacity for women's entrepreneurs toward a prosperous ASEAN Economic Community, VCCI will collaborate with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to lead and assign VWEC, the chair of AWEN, to cooperate with domestic and international organisations to host the second ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Forum (AWEF 2016) themed "Facilitating Women entrepreneurs to promote ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) development" and ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Honouring Ceremony in Hanoi March 4-5, 2016.
The forum is expected to gather approximately 350 delegates from the Vietnamese government, ASEAN Secretariat, embassies, international organisations, women entrepreneurs, and business associations from 10 ASEAN countries.
According to the Organising Board, at the plenary session, presentations concerning ""Women entrepreneurs: Potential resource for economic growth", "Creating a favourable ecosystem for the women entrepreneur development", "AEC Action Plan and pressures on businesses", "Vietnam's role in promoting AWEN's activities in the first term" will be delivered by Madam Victoria Kwakwa - World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Madam Davy Chan - CEO of Wecreate Cambodia Centre as well as economic experts and representatives from ASEAN Secretariat and ACW/ AWEN.
In the panel session themed "Supporting women entrepreneurs to grow" chaired by Madam Pacita, Chairwoman of Philippine Women Entrepreneurs Council, speakers like Madam Le Hong Thuy Tien - CEO of Imex Pan Pacific Company (IPP), Madam Khunying Natthika Wattanavekin Angubolkul - President of National Council of Women of Thailand, a representative from Indonesian Women's Business Association (IWAPI), and Madam Do Thuy Ha - Head of Private Sector Programme, Oxfam will share experience in impact investment initiatives in support of women-led businesses.
In the initiative-sharing session on empowerment for women entrepreneurs chaired by Madam Thitapha Wattanapruttipaisan, SME Lead of the USAID-funded ASEAN Connectivity through Trade and Investment (ACTI) Project and speakers will share their experience in exercising corporate social responsibility by TH True Milk (Madam Thai Huong - President of TH True Milk); experience in empowering women entrepreneurs by Coca Cola (Madam Le Tu Cam Ly, Director of Legal and External Affairs Indochina, Coca Cola and President of AMCHAM); initiative in building a common brand for ASEAN women entrepreneurs (Madam Jeannie E. Javelosa - Chairwoman and Founder of ECHOstore; President of ECHOsi Foundation; Makati PH - President of BPW, Philippines and GREAT Women Philippines); and VCCI's initiatives/programmes on economic empowerment for women/ women entrepreneurs (represented by VCCI).
Quynh Anh
Vietnamese
