BIDV supports small and medium enterprises owned by women

The Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) is the first unit in the banking system to receive the "Innovative Investment for Gender Equality" award. The award was presented within the framework of the program "Journey to Equality and Prosperity & UN Women WEPs Awards 2024" jointly implemented by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council (VWEC), the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). This is an affirmation of the bank's persistent efforts and breakthrough innovations in accompanying, supporting, and comprehensively meeting the needs of women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (WSMEs). The UN Women WEPs Awards (Women's Empowerment Principles) is an initiative of UN Women Asia - Pacific and is implemented in Asia - Pacific countries, including Vietnam. The award aims to recognize the efforts of businesses with programs and actions to create a corporate culture towards gender equality and women's empowerment; raise awareness and attract more and more businesses to apply the Women's Empowerment Principles in their businesses. Ms. Pham Thi Van Khanh - Director of BIDV's Corporate Clients Department said: Identifying WSME as units that need attention and priority for development, over the past years, BIDV has actively and proactively implemented synchronously and diversely separate financial and non-financial solutions, creating a launching pad for WSME to develop sustainably. Accordingly, BIDV supports WSME to maximize added value from bank capital; improve business management capacity; improve internal strength and financial health; accelerate the digital transformation process to help WSME easily access products and services on digital banking... Recently, BIDV has researched, built and developed the SMEasy digital platform (https://smeasy.bidv.com.vn/) with Web and Mobile App versions to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in general and WSMEs in particular. This is the first digital platform with an interface and features designed specifically for female users with the message "Shine with women-owned SMEs". With comprehensive financial and non-financial solutions, SMEasy supports WSMEs in easily accessing financial and banking services; digital transformation support solutions; business connections, product communication support, online seminars; improving skills and business management capacity through 0-VND online courses. Notable courses include: gender balance and investment with a gender lens; psychological balance for female entrepreneurs; the art of communication in the family; building resilience to turn pressure in life and work into endogenous strength; networking skills for female entrepreneurs; women in multicultural working environments... SMEasy also supports the development of industry research reports, currency markets, commodity markets; support tool warehouse, business handbook... In particular, the program's functions are designed according to the principle of "EASY: Simple - Streamlined - Easy" to help female business owners have a consistent experience on digital channels with all solutions in one. With the goal of expanding access to capital, improving capacity, fairness and sustainability for WSME, BIDV has actively responded, participated and contributed ideas to programs such as: Discussion on gender equality, for the advancement of women to be happy and successful; Forum to support women-owned businesses to participate in the supply chain through sustainable development tools; Digital luggage program for women-owned businesses and launching the Cybersecurity Handbook for female leaders; The campaign to ring the bell for gender equality... BIDV's continuous efforts on the journey with WSME are a clear demonstration of the bank's strong commitment and long-term development strategy for female business owners. At the same time, it demonstrates BIDV's responsibility in promoting sustainable development, linking long-term interests with the common prosperity of the business community. Source: https://thoibaonganhang.vn/bidv-ho-tro-doanh-nghiep-nho-va-vua-do-nu-lam-chu-158513.html