HÀ NỘI — The Việt Nam Red Cross Society (VNRC) has called for more support from the local and international business communities in humanitarian aid and social welfare projects at the first conference on humanitarian activities in Việt Nam today in Hà Nội.

Organised by VNRC, the Việt Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Việt Nam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), the event aims to promote humanitarian activities and to develop co-operation between local and international societies, organisations and enterprises in Việt Nam.

In the opening remarks, VNRC President Nguyễn Thị Xuân Thu highlighted the role of society, VCCI and VUFO in international co-operation and integration. They make important contributions to implementing the Party’s and the Government’s sustainable poverty reduction targets.

“There are many challenges in mobilising sources for humanitarian activities in the digital age,” said Thu. “The Fourth Industrial Revolution requires closer collaboration between VNRC, VCCI and VUFO in mobilising and attracting support from local and international organisations and enterprises.”

Thu said the event was a good opportunity for participants to share their experiences, effective measures and lessons learnt in promoting humanitarian activities.

Thu said VNRC had mobilised nearly VNĐ10 trillion (US$425.5 million) from local and international donors and the business community to support more than 36 million disadvantaged people over the past five years.

“With support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, countries, UN organisations and NGOs have donated millions of US dollars to support natural disaster victims in Việt Nam through the VNRC,” said Thu.

VCCI President Vũ Tiến Lộc said all developed enterprises should consider humanitarian activity their main social responsibility.

“Humanitarian activity is part of an enterprise’s success,” said Lộc.

Lộc said the event would develop a regular mechanism to multiply community strength to help poor and disadvantaged people in Việt Nam.   

The VUFO said it had mobilised US$300 million of donations from nearly 1,100 international NGOs each year, 35 per cent of which is in health care, 19 per cent in social issues, 17 per cent in socio-economic development programmes, 11 per cent in natural resource and environment, 9 per cent education and 5 per cent in institution rehabilitation and legal support programmes.

At the event, VNRC, VCCI and VUFO agreed to a co-operation programme in which they will work more closely in humanitarian activities. They will promote the abilities of each organisation in mobilising and attracting support from international organisations and enterprises, and will encourage local businesses to be involved in social welfare programmes. — VNS