This is an activity of the Business Forum “Equality Means Business” co-organized by the Vietnam Women Entrepreneur Council (VWEC) under the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and EU Delegation in Vietnam.

This event aimed to share practices on enhancing enterprises’ competitiveness and exchange thoughts on strategies to invest in women for their own development and prosperity.

The Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), a joint initiative of UN Women and UN Global Compact, comprises seven steps that businesses can take to empower women and promote gender equality at the workplace, marketplace and community.

With guidance provided by the Principles, businesses can empower women to participate fully in economic life across all sectors and throughout all levels of economic activity.  

By signing the Statement, the enterprises reaffirmed the importance of gender equality and empowerment of women. They also demonstrated leadership on gender equality and women’s empowerment and encourage fellow business leaders to do the same. 

There are 3358 WEPs signatories worldwide, of which 67 are Vietnamese including today’s twenty one new signatories. During the forum, companies shared and discussed experiences and initiatives on promotion of women’s participation in their supply chain, investment in women and gender equality promotion through corporate policies and efforts to support their communities.

The discussion motivated other companies to put gender equality and women’s empowerment at the heart of their business and corporate responsibility policies/practices.

The Forum is contributing to strengthen the trade and cooperation relationship between Vietnam and the EU thanks to mixed participation of Vietnamese as well as European businesses in the discussions and as new WEPs signatories. 

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Minh, Chairwoman of Vietnam Women Entrepreneur Council (VWEC) shared at the business forum: “Expansion of employment opportunities, dedication and promotion for women and men in community, at the workplace and in supply chain will exploit potentiality, strength of all. This is the perfect supplement and foundation to achieve the prosperity and sustainability of each country and company”.    

Speaking at the business forum, Mrs. Elisa Fernandez Saenz, UN Women Vietnam Country Representative stressed: “There is a direct correlation between investing in women’s employment and GDP per capita: countries with greater gender equality have faster-growing and more competitive economies. Likewise, businesses with greater gender equality display higher returns, higher levels of productivity and competitiveness, with better labour force and work environments”.

Mr. Tom Corrie – First Counsellor – Deputy Head of Cooperation Section, EU Delegation to Vietnam noted: “Vietnam ranks the 3^rd among ASEAN countries, in terms of gender gap score and in terms of economic participation and opportunities. Obviously, further efforts need to be placed on women economic empowerment. And I am glad to see European companies signing CEO’ commitment to Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), promoted by the WeEmpowerAsia programme, for which the EU is pleased to contribute”./.