To mark the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, March 8, (8/3/1910-8/3/2010), the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and Central Vietnam Women's Union will hold “The National Week on Vietnamese Women 2010” from March 1-8 to honour Vietnamese women, including entrepreneurs, for their outstanding achievements in production and business activities as well as contributions to the socio-economic development.
On this occasion, Vietnam Business Forum reporter Quynh Chi had an interview with Tran Thi Thuy, Chairman of the Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council on this event.
Could you tell about main activities at the National Week on Vietnamese Women in 2010?
The week will include a photo exhibition on Vietnamese women and products and services of woman-led firms in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City; a business forum for female entrepreneurs on March 3 in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi; a fashion show for women on March 5 in Hanoi; a forum for female intellectuals in the national industrilisation and modernisation and a 25th ceremony to grant Kovalepskaia Prize and present the award for local outstanding female scientists.
Notably, there will be a ceremony to celebrate the 100th anniversary of international women’s day and to award the Golden Rose prize for Vietnamese businesswomen in 2009 on March 6. This is expected to witness the participation of leaders from state, party agencies and ministries and 3,000 corporate managers inside and outside the country.
The organising board will grant Golden Rose title for six Vietnamese female leaders in different periods on occasion of the international women day. They include Former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh, Former Vice President Truong My Hoa, Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan, Member of the Central Party Committee and National Assembly Vice Chairman Tong Thi Phong, Ha Thi Khiet Member of the Central Party Committee and Head of Central Commission for Mass Mobilization and Nguyen Thi Suong Head of the Central Inspection Committee. The organising board will also present flowers female leaders who are current ministers and deputy ministers. These are memorable memories for any women in the women’s day.
Women’s contributions to the country’s construction and development are recoganised. Could you name several outstanding female entrepreneurs?
In 2009, Vietnam was among outstanding countries which made great effort to overcome the global economic downturn. Vietnamese businesspeople, particularly women from small and medium-sized enterprises, made remarkable contributions. Female entrepreneur My Le, Chairman of southern Binh Phuoc province’s Young Entrepreneurs Association, is among typical examples. Being the director of a cashew exporting company which faced many difficulties due to the market demand’s fall, she tried to overcome the situation and found out new outlets to gain an impressive export turnover.
Last year was also a difficult year for wood exporters, especially the drop in the market demand of the EU, the main importer of Vietnam. Binh Dinh-based Anh Viet Company managed by Director Dong Thi Anh encountered many difficulties due to bad impacts of the global economic slowdown and natural disasters in 2009. However, it posted high revenues against 2008.
The company of Entrepreneur Dieu Hien in Can Tho city, a leading firm in seafood export, met with lots of challenges last year due to trade barriers against tra and basa fish But, she came to the US by herself to study the market and opened a representative office here. Currently, tax levied on the company’s seafood products exported to the US is zero.
There are many other typical entrepreneurs who know how to overcome difficulties in the crisis period. Many localities, associations, groups and central agencies introduced outstanding female entrepreneurs meeting strict requirements of the organising board.
A business forum for female entrepreneurs will be also held within the week. Could you give more details on the forum?
The organising board will hold two forums for businesswomen in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The forums will see the participation of two world leading economists who will talk with female entrepreneurs on bad impacts of the world economic downturn. This is a chance for Vietnamese businesswomen to learn business experience. Each forum is expected to draw 500-600 delegates.
Hundreds businesswomen will be granted with Golden Rose Award this year. Why the number is higher than every year?
This year is to mark the 100th anniversary of the international women. In previous years, only 36 women were presented with the award, meanwhile, others, who did not receive the title, were granted with certificates of merit.
Unlike other awards, if businesswomen get the award for many times, they will be presented with the campaign medal for the development of Vietnamese female entrepreneurs. There is not differentiation between businesswomen who manage big or small enterprises. Female entreprenurs whose companies gain revenues of around VND500 million per year are also presented with the award. The organisers do not care bout revenues, corporate scale and profit, but pay attention to selecting enterprises in different areas to encourage efforts of businesswomen.
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