The Global Summit of Women - the premier gathering of women leaders in business and government worldwide - will convene in Hanoi, Vietnam on June 5-7, 2008 at Melia Hanoi Hotel, for exchanges on successful strategies for breaking through the glass ceiling for women. This is the first time that the Summit has been held in Vietnam.
Summit President Irene Natividad came to Hanoi January 6-8th to announce Vietnam’s hosting of this global event. “Women now comprise 40-50 per cent of the paid workforce; 30-40 per cent of small business owners and make 80 per cent of buying decisions in developed economies. They are present in governments in every part of the world. We gather in Vietnam to share best practices in accelerating women’s economic progress,” states Ms Natividad.
The theme for this year is “Women and Asia – Driving the Global Economy”. Main contents include: Vietnam – an emerging dynamic economy; enterprises development in Asia, dialogue with business women; youth and business forum; Global Women’s Leadership Awards; Corporate Social Responsibilities of Enterprises – Energy and environmental impact; Women CEO Forum – Opportunities and challenges in the Asia Pacific Region; consequences of success – Impact on women’s health; brand name protection and information technology; innovations in micro-entrepreneurship; doing business in Asia: avoiding cultural chasms; balancing work and life; and fighting against the trafficking of women.
Besides the main programmes, Vietnam also organizes different important activities such as: “Doing business in Vietnam” Forum; welcoming Reception; Gala Dinner; and exchange programs and communication activities to introduce Vietnam as a potential destination of investment as well as to promote the image of our country, people and culture to all international friends in the Summit.
Participants to this Summit are about 1,000 from over 100 countries and territories. This would be a good opportunity for enterprises and business women worldwide to meet with their partners and seek business opportunity, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Vice Chairwoman Tran Thi Thuy said.
The 2007 Summit brought 1,000 participants to Berlin, Germany from 95 countries, including 44 women ministers and top women leaders in corporate, entrepreneurial, government and NGO fields. Now in its 18th year, the Global Summit of Women has been the vehicle for the formation of national and regional networks, and for the sheer exchange of ideas and practices that have energized women actively involved in the global market. The Summit is unique in its ability to gather an entrepreneur, a Fortune 500 executive and a high-ranking woman in government in the same room to discuss how to influence the direction of women in business.
The Global Summit of Women is a non-profit organization headed by an International Planning Committee of women leaders from different parts of the world. The Vietnam Host Committee is chaired by VCCI Vice Chairwoman Tran Thi Thuy and the special advisor is Madame Truong My Hoa, former Vice President of Vietnam.
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