(MPI) - Ministry of Planning and Investment in collaboration with Asian Development Bank (ADB) organised a launching workshop on the “Facilitating entrepreneurship growth by lifting barriers: White Book on woman-owned small and medium-sized enterprises in Vietnam” in Hanoi on January 23.

At the event. Photo: MPI

With the goal of promoting support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) owned by women under the Law on Support for Small and Medium Enterprises, within the framework of the Technical Assistance Project for the Promotion of Women-Owned Enterprises Development in Southeast Asia and the Pacific implemented by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Vietnam for the 2019-2024 period, the MPI in collaboration with ADB, developed a White Book on women-owned SMEs.

The White Book includes key contents on the situation of women-owned SMEs, opportunities, challenges, review of the legal framework, and proposals to promote the development of the women-owned SME sector.

Speaking at the event, MPI Deputy Minister Tran Duy Dong stated that in Vietnam, 98% of enterprises SMEs, of which 20% are owned by women. This sector plays an important role in creating jobs, improving income for workers, contributing positively to poverty reduction and promoting economic growth.

From a social development perspective, these enterprises contribute to enhancing the status of women, increase investment in health and education for children, especially girls, thereby increasing social benefits and aiming towards sustainable development goals.

Along with the strong development of the enterprise sector, in the 2012-2022 period, the number of women-owned enterprises continuously increased at a rate of at least 2% per year, higher than the average growth rate of the enterprise sector. Currently, Vietnam is one of the most favorable markets for female entrepreneurs, with one of the most effective networks of women's enterprises in ASEAN.

Based on international knowledge and practices, the White Book provides recommendations to unleash the untapped potential of women-owned small and medium enterprises in Vietnam. These recommendations include: (i) building a gender-disaggregated database, (ii) incorporating the concept of women-owned SMEs into specific legal documents, including the Gender Equality Law, (iii) feasible measures with a gender perspective for the implementation of the Law on Support for Small and Medium Enterprises, and (iv) focusing more on activities to disseminate knowledge and raise awareness, including promoting the entrepreneurial spirit and the model of successful female entrepreneurs./.

Bao Linh

Ministry of Planning and Investment