Leading companies in Viet Nam sign the CEO Statement of Support for Women’s Empowerment Principles

[Press release]

Ha Noi, Viet Nam – Twenty-one business leaders in Viet Nam joining a forum hosted by UN Women have signed the CEO Statement of Support for the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) as they charted the next steps to achieve gender equality in the workplace, marketplace and community.

The companies endorsed the Statement in the presence of the “Equality Means Business” forum organizers – UN Women, the EU Delegation in Viet Nam and the Viet Nam Women Entrepreneur Council (VWEC) under the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). They agreed to continue encouraging more businesses in the country to sign on.

Established by UN Women and United Nations Global Compact, the WEPs promote business practices that empower female workers. Signatories commit to take seven steps including giving women senior corporate posts and treating all workers fairly. UN Women also works to promote women in the private sector through its WeEmpowerAsia programme, which is funded by the European Union. The programme involves Viet Nam and six other Asian countries.

During the forum, the company representatives exchanged ideas on enhancing enterprise competitiveness, promotion of women’s participation in supply chains, and strategies for investing in women’s business leadership and talent. They also underlined the need for strong corporate leadership to scale ambitions into actions.

Elisa Fernandez Saenz, UN Women Viet Nam Country Representative, opened the gathering noting how empowering women strengthens the bottom line of businesses: “There is a direct correlation between investing in women’s employment and GDP per capita: countries with greater gender equality have faster-growing and more competitive economies. Likewise, businesses with greater gender equality display higher returns, higher levels of productivity and competitiveness, with better labour force and work environments.”

Nguyen Thi Tuyet Minh, Chairwoman of the Viet Nam Women Entrepreneur Council (VWEC), shared at the forum: “Expansion of employment opportunities, dedication and promotion for women and men in community, at the workplace and in supply chain will exploit potentiality, strength of all. This is the perfect supplement and foundation to achieve the prosperity and sustainability of each country and company.”    

Tom Corrie, First Counsellor and Deputy Head of Cooperation Section at the European Union Delegation to Viet Nam said: “Viet Nam ranks the 3rd among ASEAN countries, in terms of gender gap score and in terms of economic participation and opportunities. Obviously, further efforts need to be placed on women economic empowerment. And I am glad to see European companies signing CEO’ commitment to Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), promoted by the WeEmpowerAsia programme, for which the EU is pleased to contribute.”

At present, there are 3,358 WEPs signatories worldwide, of which 67 are in Viet Nam including the 21 new signatories that had signed at the event.

The event, held ahead of World Entrepreneurs Day on August 21, saw the participation of Vietnamese as well as European businesses based in the country that highlighted the need to strengthen trade and cooperation links between European and Vietnamese markets as both sides continue advancing women’s economic rights and opportunities.

Watch the forum opening video: