Women’s role crucial in sustainable development and international integration – vietnamnews.vn

Report on the Viet Nam Women Entrepreneurs Forum 2025: Advancing Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The Viet Nam Women Entrepreneurs Forum 2025, themed ‘The Rise of Women Entrepreneurs in the New Era,’ convened in Hà Nội to address the pivotal role of women-led businesses in achieving national and global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event, organized by the Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council (VWEC) and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in collaboration with the UK Embassy, highlighted the significant contributions of female entrepreneurs to economic growth, gender equality, and innovation. The forum underscored the alignment of business development with key SDGs, particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Progress Towards Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (SDG 5)

The forum reported significant progress in empowering women in economic and political spheres, directly contributing to the targets of SDG 5. Women-led enterprises now constitute nearly 25% of the total number of businesses in Việt Nam, a notable figure within the ASEAN region. This advancement is further evidenced by several key indicators:

• Economic Leadership: 51% of Vietnamese businesses have women in their ownership structures, far exceeding regional averages and demonstrating a strong commitment to equal opportunities in leadership.
• Political Representation: The proportion of female delegates in the 15th National Assembly has reached 30.26%, a substantial increase from the previous session and a high benchmark in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Workforce Participation: Women comprise 63% of the national workforce, with a strong presence across all sectors, particularly in education, healthcare, and services.

Contributions to Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8)

Female entrepreneurs are a crucial driving force for inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Their enterprises make substantial contributions to the national economy and the promotion of decent work for all, in line with SDG 8.

• Economic Contribution: These businesses are significant contributors to the national budget.
• Job Creation: They play a vital role in generating employment across the country.
• Sustainable Business Values: Women-led businesses are recognized for bringing unique values that foster sustainable growth, including human-centered thinking, resilience, and an innovative spirit.

Fostering Innovation and Sustainable Industrialization (SDG 9)

The forum emphasized that science, technology, and innovation are key drivers for sustainable development, aligning with the objectives of SDG 9. The event positioned this as a critical moment for women-led businesses to enhance competitiveness and integrate into the global value chain through technological advancement.

• Strategic Alignment: The national focus on science, technology, and innovation, as outlined in Politburo Resolution 57-NQ/TW, provides a foundational pillar for this new era of development.
• Embracing Transformation: Female entrepreneurs are encouraged to embrace digital transformation and innovation to assert their position globally.
• Synergistic Strength: The combination of entrepreneurial qualities with science and technology is expected to create synergistic strength, elevating Vietnamese female entrepreneurs to regional and global prominence.

Strengthening Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

The forum itself served as a testament to the power of multi-stakeholder partnerships in achieving sustainable development. The collaboration between Vietnamese business associations, government bodies, and international partners is critical for promoting an inclusive business environment.

• International Cooperation: The partnership between the VCCI, VWEC, and the UK Embassy highlights strong international cooperation in promoting women-led businesses and sustainable development.
• UK Commitment: The UK Ambassador to Việt Nam reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Việt Nam in enhancing the role of entrepreneurs, developing the private sector, and improving the business environment, in alignment with the goals set by the Vietnamese government.

Recognition and Future Inspiration: The ‘Golden Rose 2025’ Awards

The ‘Golden Rose 2025’ awards ceremony was held to recognize and celebrate the achievements of outstanding female entrepreneurs, reinforcing their role as agents of sustainable development.

1. Honoring Excellence: The awards honored 98 female entrepreneurs for their remarkable success in business and significant contributions to community and society.
2. Affirming Sustainable Value: The initiative affirms the role of women entrepreneurs in creating not only economic value but also humanistic, cultural, and social value for the community.
3. Inspiring Future Generations: The ceremony is intended to inspire and motivate the younger generation of female entrepreneurs to pursue innovation and creativity, thereby driving the nation’s socio-economic development and contributing to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The article’s central theme is the empowerment of women, focusing on their increasing role as entrepreneurs and leaders in Việt Nam. It highlights the growth of women-led businesses, their contributions to the economy, and their rising participation in political life, all of which are core components of achieving gender equality.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article explicitly states that women-led businesses “contribute not only to the national budget and job creation.” This directly links their activities to promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. The focus on entrepreneurship and improving competitiveness further reinforces this connection.
3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • The article emphasizes that “science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation” are key drivers for sustainable development. It encourages female entrepreneurs to “embrace trends of science, technology, innovation” to improve competitiveness and secure a position in the global value chain, which aligns with the goal of building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The event described in the article, the “Viet Nam Women Entrepreneurs Forum 2025,” was organized by the Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council (VWEC) in collaboration with the UK Embassy. The UK Ambassador’s speech reaffirms a commitment to supporting Việt Nam. This collaboration is a clear example of a multi-stakeholder partnership to achieve sustainable development goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 5 (Gender Equality):
   • Target 5.5: “Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.” The article directly supports this by highlighting the significant growth in women-led businesses (economic leadership) and stating that the “proportion of female delegates in the 15th National Assembly has reached 30.26 per cent” (political leadership).
2. Under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
   • Target 8.3: “Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation…” The entire article focuses on promoting and celebrating female entrepreneurship. It notes that these businesses contribute to “job creation” and are driven by an “innovative spirit.”
3. Under SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure):
   • Target 9.5: “Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries… encouraging innovation.” The article calls this a “golden moment to break through, embrace trends of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, and improve competitiveness,” directly aligning with the goal of upgrading technological capabilities and fostering innovation within the business community.
4. Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
   • Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…” The forum itself, being a collaboration between the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (a business association), the Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council (a civil society body), and the UK Embassy (a public/international entity), is a direct manifestation of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 5, Target 5.5:
   • Indicator 5.5.1 (Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments): The article provides a precise figure: “The proportion of female delegates in the 15th National Assembly has reached 30.26 per cent.”
   • Indicator 5.5.2 (Proportion of women in managerial positions): The article mentions that “women-led businesses currently make up nearly 25 per cent of the total number of enterprises” and “51 per cent of Vietnamese businesses having women in ownership structures,” which serve as direct indicators of women in economic leadership and managerial roles.
2. For SDG 8, Target 8.3:
   • Implied Indicator (Growth in number of enterprises): The statement that the number of “women-led businesses has significantly grown in recent years” implies a measure of progress in entrepreneurship. The figure of “nearly 25 per cent” of all enterprises being women-led is a quantifiable indicator of the scale of this entrepreneurship.
   • Implied Indicator (Job creation): The article mentions that these businesses contribute to “job creation,” which is a key qualitative indicator for this target, although no specific numbers are provided.
3. For SDG 9, Target 9.5:
   • Implied Indicator (Adoption of new technologies): The article implies that progress can be measured by the extent to which female entrepreneurs “embrace trends of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.” While not a quantitative figure, it points to the adoption rate of innovation as a key metric.
4. For SDG 17, Target 17.17:
   • Implied Indicator (Number and quality of multi-stakeholder partnerships): The existence of the collaborative forum between VCCI, VWEC, and the UK Embassy serves as a concrete example and indicator of a functioning partnership aimed at promoting sustainable development. The UK Ambassador’s pledge of continued support indicates the long-term nature of this partnership.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: vietnamnews.vn