The delegation at the academic conference. — Photo courtesy of Việt Nam Women's Academy

HÀ NỘI — The challenges of COVID-19 are a test that requires women to join hands in support of women's businesses that dare to prove themselves and show their strengths, according to Elisa Fernandez, UN Women Representative to Việt Nam, at the conference 'Women's innovative entrepreneurship in the new normal' on Wednesday. 

The event was designed for academic exchanges and discussions on women, entrepreneurship, and innovation in the post-COVID era.  

The hybrid-format conference saw the participation of over 200 delegates, including students, academics, social activists and managers, and entrepreneurs from local and international institutions.  

Addressing the event, Trần Quang Tiến, Director of Việt Nam Women's Academy, said that women-owned businesses account for 26.5 per cent of companies in Việt Nam.

"Women contribute as much as 40 per cent of the total wealth in the Vietnamese economy. In reality, however, Vietnamese women face numerous obstacles and challenges in personal development, yet they have an advantage in innovation and entrepreneurship," she said.

Connecting academics, policymakers and all who care about gender equality and women's entrepreneurship, the conference selected 25 excellent papers for the conference proceedings out of 50 submissions received. 

The papers focus on theoretical topics, policies and laws on women, entrepreneurship and business development, female entrepreneurs in the start-up ecosystems, and other gender issues in entrepreneurship and innovation. 

Đỗ Thị Thu Thảo, Vice Chairwoman of Việt Nam's Women Union, said: "The conference is expected to discover new ideas to enhance the capacity of women entrepreneurs, to adapt, transform and thrive in the new normal."

"It is also looking to find solutions and support women in realising their start-up ideas, developing their businesses to create more jobs, improve income sources, remove existing barriers for women's development, contribute to national objectives on entrepreneurship and take action for gender equality."

Hosted by Việt Nam Women's Academy, the event is part of WeEmpowerAsia, a joint programme by UN Women and the European Union to increase the number of women who lead and participate in businesses. — VNS