The Prime Minister appreciates and highly appreciates the efforts, will, and spirit of striving of female entrepreneurs.

Also attending the meeting at the Government headquarters were Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, Minister and Head of the Government Office Tran Van Son, leaders of ministries, branches, central agencies, and leaders of a number of associations and enterprises.

Nearly 1,000 female entrepreneurs attended the meeting, which was broadcast live to locations in 28 provinces and cities.

The Prime Minister's meeting with the Vietnam Association of Women Entrepreneurs was held in person and online. Photo: VGP/Dinh Nam

According to opinions at the meeting, after 7 years of establishment, the Vietnam Association of Women Entrepreneurs has continuously grown and developed. The number of members increased by 400%, the rate of businesses owned by women increased from 4% in 2009 to 21% in 2011 and now reaches 25% (the highest in Southeast Asia and ranked 19/54 in the Women Entrepreneurs Index). Vietnam currently ranks 6th among countries with the highest rate of female entrepreneurs and is the only Asian representative in the top 10 countries in this rate.

Delegates affirmed that the special attention of the Party, the State, the entire political system, all levels, sectors and people nationwide with appropriate mechanisms, policies and solutions and the outstanding efforts of the female entrepreneurs themselves have contributed to the success and outstanding results of female entrepreneurs and businesses owned and led by women.

Opinions highly appreciated the synchronous, drastic and effective direction and management of the Government and the Prime Minister in epidemic prevention, implementing policies to remove difficulties, support people and businesses, ensuring social security, timely and appropriate changes in safe and flexible adaptation, effective control of the epidemic, economic and social recovery and development, etc.

According to delegates, after more than two years of a difficult and challenging pandemic, Vietnam's economy has maintained growth, recovery and development, and is showing positive signs of improvement in all areas with strong momentum, continuing to affirm its attractiveness to investors, and strengthening the trust of society and the business community.

Ms. Thai Huong, President of the Vietnam Association of Women Entrepreneurs, speaks at the meeting. Photo: VGP/Dinh Nam

The tireless efforts of the Party, State and Government leaders have inspired businesses in general and female entrepreneurs in particular to strictly comply with the Party and State's policies and laws, make efforts to respond to difficulties and challenges, both prevent the epidemic and conduct production and business, actively participate in the global value chain, and contribute to epidemic prevention work...

Female entrepreneurs have growing opportunities to contribute more

Speaking at the meeting, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that Vietnamese women have made great contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation throughout the history of the struggle for national liberation and reunification in the past, as well as in the cause of national construction and defense today.

Our Party and State always pay attention and create favorable conditions to promote the role of women in all activities of social life. With the spirit of accompanying the business community in general and the female entrepreneurs in particular to develop the business community strongly and comprehensively, promote the creativity, strengths and competitiveness of the business community, our Party and State have issued many mechanisms and policies, creating a favorable environment, empowering women to manage the economy, promoting women's active participation in economic and social activities.

According to the Prime Minister, enhancing women's economic development power, enhancing women's leadership position and gender equality is a driving force and one of the effective methods to contribute to improving social labor productivity, towards a more stable, healthy, sustainable and effective economic development.

In the process of innovation, development and integration of the country, the noble qualities of Vietnamese women such as solidarity, dynamism and creativity continue to be affirmed. In particular, the Vietnamese female entrepreneurs not only fulfill their role as mothers and good wives in the family, but are also good at leading and managing production and business activities. Many businesses owned by women have contributed to creating material wealth, an important source of income for the country's economy and income for each family, creating jobs for workers, and fulfilling their responsibilities to society and the community.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh presented flowers and congratulated outstanding female entrepreneurs. Photo: VGP/Dinh Nam

The Prime Minister emphasized that we respect and appreciate the efforts, self-reliance, self-strengthening spirit, and striving spirit of female entrepreneurs, overcoming many difficulties, barriers and social prejudices to achieve results and successes, making an important contribution to the socio-economic development of the country. On behalf of the Government, the Prime Minister also acknowledged and appreciated the efforts and achievements of the Vietnam Association of Women Entrepreneurs in nearly 8 years of operation.

2022 is a very important year, creating the foundation for implementing the goals of the 5-year Plan 2021 - 2025. The international and domestic situation is forecasted to have advantages, opportunities and difficulties, and challenges intertwined, but difficulties and challenges are greater.

The Prime Minister requested the Vietnam Association of Women Entrepreneurs to closely coordinate with relevant ministries, branches, localities and agencies to develop specific programs, plans and solutions focusing on overcoming current difficulties, limitations and shortcomings, creating more favorable conditions for the development of female entrepreneurs.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh and female entrepreneurs at the meeting. Photo: VGP/Dinh Nam

Along with that, continue to strongly promote the role of representing the business community and female entrepreneurs, acting as a bridge between businesses and State management agencies and socio-political organizations, researching and proposing to the Government, all levels and sectors on mechanisms, policies and solutions to support business development.

The Prime Minister also asked the Association to strengthen its role as a bridge, promoting cooperation between domestic and foreign enterprises; supporting the enhancement of economic empowerment for women, improving the competitiveness of enterprises owned and led by women...

According to the Prime Minister, liberating women is also liberating society and liberating resources. Compared to their male counterparts, female entrepreneurs have disadvantages but also have their own strengths such as flexibility, adaptability, compassion, sympathy, sharing, gentleness and noble sacrifice, which need to be further promoted in the new period. In the current world context, with new trends such as sustainable, comprehensive, inclusive, humane development, green transformation, digital transformation, etc., Vietnamese female entrepreneurs have an increasingly greater opportunity to contribute more to society, the community, the country and the world, on the path towards civilization, prosperity, peace, cooperation and development.

The Government and the Prime Minister require ministries, branches and localities to always accompany businesses, especially businesses owned by female entrepreneurs, focus on removing obstacles in mechanisms and policies, including specific recommendations at the meeting, create an equal business environment and provide more support for female entrepreneurs to contribute with the entire Party, the entire army and the entire people to successfully implement the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party, bringing our country to rapid and sustainable development, successfully realizing the aspiration to develop a prosperous and happy country.