Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Minh, chairwoman of Việt Nam Women Entrepreneurs Council, said that many MSMEs had yet to take part in programmes that Việt Nam had already set up for such enterprises.— VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — The 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation will meet in September in central Thừa Thiên-Huế Province to discuss ways to develop the competitive and creative capacity of women-owned micro-, small- and medium-sized (MSMEs) enterprises.

Women-owned MSMEs account for 97 per cent of the total number of MSMEs in the Asia-Pacific region.

Women-owned MSMEs contribute 20-50 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in APEC economies, according to the APEC Secretariat. However, these enterprises account for only 35 per cent of direct exports.

As many as 500 representatives from the APEC 2017 Women and Economy Forum are expected to attend the forum from September 26 to 29.

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs, Nguyễn Trọng Đàm, said that the members should focus on making a detailed action programme to provide enterprises with updated information on global trade agreements.

Đàm spoke yesterday at a workshop in HCM City that gathered opinions from the private sector on an action plan for women-owned businesses to be presented at the forum.

He said that regulations that cause barriers for women-led businesses should be reviewed and that professional training on leadership and management skills should be offered to women who own MSMEs.

“These skills are very important to help them develop in a sustainable way,” he said, adding that a network of people who can provide counselling on brand-building and legal advice was also important.

Tôn Nữ Thị Ninh, chairwoman of HCM City’s Peace and Development Foundation, said that it was vital to build a brand name for enterprises and that women-owned MSMEs should use social media.

“They should have a comprehensive vision to optimise their businesses,” she added.

Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Minh, chairwoman of Việt Nam Women Entrepreneurs Council, said that many MSMEs had yet to take part in programmes that Việt Nam had already set up for such enterprises.

She said that Government agencies in charge of commercial promotion should help MSMEs have better access to these programmes. —VNS