On May 18, Hero of Labor Thai Huong, Chairwoman of TH Group's Strategy Council, General Director of Bac A Commercial Joint Stock Bank, Chairwoman of VAWE, hosted a reception and worked with Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, General Director (CEO) of WTO.
After working with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, WTO CEO visited AHLĐ Thai Huong at the workplace of the founder of TH Group in Hanoi.
This meeting stemmed from the wishes of the WTO CEO during his working trip to Vietnam and the framework of the WTO's work plan on trade and gender 2023, taking place right after the working session between the WTO CEO and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and ministers.
WTO CEO affirmed that the meeting is an opportunity to listen to opportunities, trade challenges in Vietnam and proposals for the WTO.
Also welcoming and attending the meeting were VAWE Vice Chairmen: Ms. Nguyen Thi Bao Hien, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors, General Director of Hien Le Group; Ms. Nguyen Thi Nga, Chairwoman of BRG Group, Founding Chairwoman, General Director of Southeast Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank; Ms. Ha Thi Thu Thanh, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Deloitte Vietnam...
Sharing at the meeting, Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emphasized that the meeting with AHLĐ Thái Hương and female entrepreneurs in the VAWE leadership team who run leading Vietnamese enterprises is an opportunity to listen to opinions on current trade opportunities and challenges in Vietnam for large enterprises, as well as recommendations for the WTO. The WTO CEO also hopes to hear how digital transformation affects women-owned businesses in Vietnam.
Talking to Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, AHLĐ Thái Hương said that VAWE is an association of aspiring female entrepreneurs who have made many contributions to the country. VAWE female entrepreneurs have achieved many impressive achievements, putting their businesses and names on the list of influential businesses and entrepreneurs, not only domestically but also regionally and internationally.
Regarding the content that the WTO CEO is interested in, AHLĐ Thái Hương said that businesses are facing common difficulties in trade logistics and logistics in the post-Covid-19 pandemic and war period, causing costs to increase, especially the increase in gasoline prices, leading to increased costs. Businesses are making efforts to restructure to adapt to new conditions.
Hoping that Vietnamese businesses would contribute their voices to the WTO, Ms. Thai Huong had the initiative to invite Vietnamese female entrepreneurs to attend the meeting.
Accordingly, Ms. Thai Huong proposed that the WTO have additional solutions to support bringing Vietnamese products to the world, especially products from female-owned enterprises that are members of VAWE, and to receive Vietnamese products that are needed from the world market.
As a global trade organization, the WTO has full information about the demand of countries for products that are Vietnam's strengths, especially food. Vietnam is qualified to become a decent "kitchen" of the world.
Agricultural and herbal products that VAWE enterprises such as TH Group are producing are all of international quality standards, applying traceability technology from input materials... In addition, cement, minerals, and young human resources are also strengths that Vietnam can provide to the world with the introduction of the WTO.
Regarding this proposal, Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala affirmed that the WTO can support VAWE in terms of knowledge, market information, technical support and especially can help businesses with high-quality products overcome trade barriers if any.
According to Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, in Vietnam, the WTO has had some activities through the She Trades program. If large enterprises such as TH Group, BRG, Hien Le… have proposals, the WTO will send experts to work directly to advise.
WTO CEO meeting opens up many solutions to address global trade challenges that women-owned businesses in Vietnam are facing.
Regarding digital transformation, the Chairwoman of VAWE affirmed that this is a solution that is being strongly implemented in female-owned enterprises in Vietnam, digital transformation is associated with the circular economy. According to Ms. Thai Huong, VAWE members recognize that in the process of digital transformation, human resource qualifications are the most important factor. VAWE has held many seminars and training programs on digital transformation knowledge and tools to help businesses access the general trend, but there is still a need for international seminars and training courses to update this process of businesses around the world.
Also at the meeting, VAWE vice presidents shared and contributed additional proposals on training Vietnamese female entrepreneurs and female workers to meet the world's development requirements in digital technology; connecting financial resources to support Vietnamese businesses to access digital technology; connecting resources to help the young generation of Vietnam start businesses...
Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala affirmed that the meeting helped her understand more about the challenges for Vietnamese female entrepreneurs. In response to the concerns of Vietnamese female entrepreneurs about digital transformation, Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala informed that the WTO is developing international rules on digital trade to help minimize risks for businesses when bringing products to the international market, and hopes that VAWE members as well as Vietnamese entrepreneurs will participate in developing this set of rules. Regarding support for training digital transformation personnel, the WTO CEO will connect with the World Bank (WB) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to soon have solutions for proposals from VAWE leaders.
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