Support women to start businesses with local strengths

In recent years, the number of start-up projects and products of the "One Commune One Product" (OCOP) Program by women in Ca Mau province has increased.

Sharing about the activities that the Union has implemented to support women in starting a business, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thuy, Vice President of the Women's Union of Ca Mau province, said: " In the past time, the Union at all levels in the province has made efforts to support women in economic development and starting a business. The Union has supported 31 startup and business ideas/projects of its members and women to participate in the investment search competition at the "Confident Women Starting a Business" Contest; supported 13 startup projects to participate in the "Women Starting a Business, Promoting Local Resources" Contest organized by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union; supported 75 startup ideas to participate in the "Creative Startup Ideas/Projects" Contest (CamaUp) of Ca Mau province in 2023. In addition, we have coordinated to organize vocational training classes for rural female workers; developed a plan to support female products to achieve OCOP product certification, upgrade OCOP products...

In 2023, the Association coordinated to guide, support procedures and business knowledge for 423 women who are business owners, cooperative managers, cooperative groups, and production and business households; supported more than 700 million VND for 85 women to start a business; established 5 new cooperatives managed by women, bringing the total to 17 cooperatives, with 193 members and 136 cooperative groups with 1,530 members. We organized 5 training courses for 175 Association officials and female owners of products, cooperative groups, and cooperatives on OCOP; Coordinated the organization of 217 training and vocational training classes for 10,850 business owners, cooperative management departments, cooperative groups, members, and women on the following contents: Knowledge of establishing and managing cooperatives, collective economics, starting a business, marketing knowledge, sales skills, market research, planning skills... at the same time, introducing jobs to 4,772 female workers.

PV: Can you share specifically about some startup models that have broken through thanks to the support of the Association?

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thuy: One of the effective women's start-up models from local resources supported by the Provincial Women's Union is the Ba Khia Dam Doi Cooperative. From the abundant source of ba khia raw materials in Ca Mau, Tran Thi Xa (in Cay Ke hamlet, Quach Pham Bac commune, Dam Doi district) boldly came up with the idea of ​​developing products from ba khia. This idea won 2 first prizes in the "Startup creative ideas and projects" contests of the province and the Mekong Delta region in 2020. From the prize money of 50 million VND, Tran Thi Xa gradually realized her idea, moving towards establishing a cooperative named Ba Khia Dam Doi and building a brand for many products processed from ba khia and shrimp of Ca Mau. In 2023, the Provincial Women's Union supported the cooperative to upgrade 4 OCOP products from 3 stars to 4 stars, including: Sweet and sour shrimp paste, Ba Khia soup, Ready-to-mix Ba Khia, and Salted Ba Khia.

PV: What are the current difficulties in supporting local women to start businesses, madam?

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thuy: Currently, women in rural areas account for a high proportion, most of them have low education levels, limited market information, technology application, science and technology. Due to the lack of conditions to access support policies, unstable output, and uncertain prices, many women are still afraid to start a business or invest in expanding production and business. In addition, start-up products are still monotonous and have low competitiveness. Despite many difficulties, we always strive to accompany and encourage women to persevere and pursue their goals to the end.

PV: Thank you!

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/ca-mau-ho-tro-phu-nu-khoi-nghiep-voi-san-pham-the-manh-cua-dia-phuong-20240521160945208.htm