Enhancing women's economic development potential from start-up projects

Unity and action for women's economic rights

According to Ms. Tran Thi Kim Phuong - Vice President of the Soc Trang Provincial Women's Union, immediately after the Prime Minister approved the Project "Supporting Women to Start a Business in the 2017 - 2025 period" (referred to as Project 939 ), the Standing Committee of the Provincial Women's Union proactively advised on the development of a plan to submit to the Soc Trang Provincial People's Committee for approval and issued Plan No. 104 / KH-UBND, dated October 4, 2018 to implement Project 939 in the province. Every year, the Provincial Women's Union develops a plan to implement Project 939, a plan to organize Women's Startup Day and put it into operation. At that time, the Provincial Women's Union widely deployed it to all levels of the union and to each locality and unit in the area to raise women's awareness of starting a business and developing a business. From there, boldly realize women-led startup ideas through local startup support activities.

The Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union and the Provincial Women's Union regularly organize meetings, dialogues, and seminars to listen to opinions, needs, and aspirations to create favorable conditions to support women in starting businesses. Photo: SỘM MAI

The Provincial Association has focused on directing the implementation of the project with many practical activities such as: Organizing the annual Women's Entrepreneurship Day ; supporting the improvement of the quality of women's groups of small traders, women's business clubs ; connecting women's businesses to introduce products, promote trade through mass media channels; participating in product exhibitions; calling for investment; organizing seminars ... In particular, organizing 37 dialogues with 1,905 delegates; supporting 145 women to start businesses and start businesses from specific models with an amount of 442 million VND. Notably, in addition to the provincial budget, the Provincial Women's Union also took advantage of connecting resources from the Canadian Embassy to support the Provincial Small and Medium Enterprise Development Project, which has successfully organized many activities to support business start-ups and startups.

Notably, in order to effectively implement Project 939, the Provincial Association has seriously carried out inspection and supervision work, ensuring the principle of democratic centralism, focusing on thematic inspections. Regularly advising the Party Committee and authorities at the same level in implementing this project in the locality; coordinating the selection of monitoring contents for a number of policies and guidelines directly related to the rights and legitimate interests of women of all classes. The Provincial Women's Union has identified Project 939 as an important legal basis for associations at all levels in the province to systematically implement activities to support women in starting a business. This is also an opportunity to help women's union members of Soc Trang province start a business, increasing their ability to access support programs and policies from the government and departments and organizations. In addition to participating in solving social problems and practically protecting the legitimate rights and interests of women and children, activities to support women are truly an open opportunity for women to start a business in the new period.

Every year, the Women's Union of Soc Trang province organizes Women's Entrepreneurship Day and introduces and displays hundreds of products. Photo: SỘM MAI

Efficient and Advanced

Looking back at 8 years of implementing Project 939, over 90% of specialized union officials at all levels have raised awareness and methods to support women in starting and developing businesses (95% or more completed, exceeding the set target by 105.5%); 70% of female union members have been propagandized and raised awareness about employment and starting a business (76% completed); 698 women have been supported to start a business (199.4% exceeded) and a number of other criteria have all met and exceeded the target. Specifically, by the end of 2024, the whole province will have 186 cooperatives with 3,016 members and 92 groups with 1,008 members in professions and services have been launched. Supporting women to participate in 4 "Women's Entrepreneurship" competitions launched by the Provincial Association, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union with 83 unique and creative ideas to meet the needs of the era of science, technology, and digital transformation.

In order to promote and improve the capacity of the association staff at all levels in all fields, the Provincial Association has coordinated to organize 119 training courses with 4,031 members participating. From the knowledge and skills trained, the association at all levels actively supported 496 women to start their own businesses and start a business through activities such as: introducing loans; supporting business registration procedures ; registering trademarks; registering start-up products. As a result, from 2020 to now, the whole province has 65/242 OCOP products supported by women's unions at all levels and the products recognized as meeting OCOP quality are: shrimp paste without shell, longan fruit, pickles, Ngoc Hanh plum jam, freshwater fish sauce, fresh soft-shelled turtle, tilapia fish cake, pork roll , natural-flavored sweet potato snacks, butter-flavored sweet potato snacks, dried shrimp, pickled shallots, Xuan Dieu dried banana, shrimp paste with roe, blood cockle sauce, honey, soursop tea, snakehead fish sauce, sac fish sauce, boneless perch fish sauce, duck egg fish sauce.

Many unique and impressive startup products. Photo: EARLY MAI

In reality, Project 939 not only helps women access business opportunities but also enhances women's economic power in many fields. Importantly, some start-up models aim for sustainable development, apply environmentally friendly technology, and utilize resources effectively. At that time, the activities always pay attention to poor women, ethnic minority women, and women in remote areas, ensuring the goal of "leaving no one behind". The support is appropriate to the needs of each subject; the organization is flexible, keeping up with the requirements and trends of social development. Therefore, Soc Trang women are increasingly confident in making decisions, participating in social activities and contributing to the economic development of their families and localities. Thereby, actively contributing to raising community awareness of the role of women, promoting equality and fairness in society.

MORNING

Source: https://baosoctrang.org.vn/kinh-te/202504/nang-cao-tiem-nang-phat-trien-kinh-te-cua-phu-nu-tu-de-an-khoi-nghiep-5d25f0c/