Empowering women to take control of the economy

During the 8 years of implementing the Project “Supporting Women to Start a Business in the 2017-2025 period”, Quang Ninh women have gradually affirmed their proactive role in developing the local economy. With internal strength, creativity and the support of Women's Unions at all levels in the province, thousands of women have boldly started businesses, taken control of the economy, built production models associated with cultural identity and local resources, spreading the spirit of sustainable enrichment in the community.

Quang Ninh Provincial Women Entrepreneurs Association welcomed and worked with the Happymom World Women's Global Union Delegation (Korea), April 2025.

Economic Development Leverage for Women

Implementing Decision No. 939/QD-TTg (June 30, 2017) of the Prime Minister , the Provincial Women's Union has implemented many activities to support women in starting a business, from propaganda, raising awareness to training skills, supporting capital, connecting markets. The project has become a driving force to help women promote their strengths, realize their business ideas and gradually take control of the economy.

During the 2017-2025 period, the Women's Union at all levels supported more than 2,000 women to start businesses, including many poor women, ethnic minorities, women with disabilities, and women in areas where agricultural land has been converted. In particular, 22 cooperatives and cooperatives managed by women have been established, mainly in the fields of clean agricultural products, medicinal herbs, handicrafts, community tourism services, etc. 100% of new models are supported in terms of procedures, capital, management skills, and product development.

Members of Viet Hung Agriculture - Forestry - Fishery Cooperative (Hoanh Bo ward) introduce guava products to tourists.

Along with the support from the Association at all levels, Quang Ninh also issued many specific policies such as Resolution 148/2018/NQ-HDND on supporting small and medium enterprises; Decision No. 1919/QD-UBND on the Project "Developing enterprises, creative startups and developing key products, building brands of Quang Ninh province by 2025, with a vision to 2030"; Plans for developing enterprises and creative startups by 2030... Thereby opening up new opportunities for female entrepreneurs and female business households in the process of starting a business.

Notably, the Women's Union at all levels has proactively organized many diverse activities such as the annual "Women's Entrepreneurship Day", forums for exchange, creative idea competitions... to arouse the desire to get rich among members. This is also an opportunity to display products, connect resources, and organize specialized seminars. Notably, the Provincial Women's Union has launched the "Women's Entrepreneurship, Promoting Local Resources" Contest organized by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union. Thereby, in 2023, the project "Developing glass fish floss products for pregnant women and children" by Ms. Le Thi Bich Thao (owner of the Thao Nguyen clean and delicious floss production facility, Cua Ong ward) won third prize nationwide; in 2024, the project "Producing instant seafood floss" by Ms. Do Thi Thuy (Director of Van Don Seafood Company Limited) won third prize nationwide.

Not only successful in terms of ideas, many models have been replicated such as clean agricultural production, organic livestock farming, traditional product development associated with community tourism, ecological services... Many establishments owned by women have OCOP products with protected trademarks and introduced on e-commerce platforms such as Shopee, Postmart, Voso...

Towards digital startups and green development

Communication sessions, training courses and seminars held widely in localities in the province have contributed to strongly inspiring, helping to improve knowledge and arouse the entrepreneurial spirit of women members. Communication work has been promoted on many platforms such as newspapers and social networks Zalo, Facebook and the Association's Fanpage, with more than 478 news, articles and 9 reports posted, creating a widespread effect.

Thanks to this, more than 226,000 women members have had access to information about starting a business; nearly 1,300 women have been trained in essential skills such as business planning, accessing capital, and selling on digital platforms. In particular, the Association has organized 35 intensive training courses on e-commerce, online sales skills, personal finance and business management, for more than 300 female business owners and small producers. Through this, many women not only take charge of production but also confidently market and consume products through modern channels, increasing the value of goods.

Ha Long City Women's Union coordinated with Son Duong Commune Women's Union and Dan Chu to establish and launch 2 "Women's groups for economic development", August 2024.

In addition to skill support, the Association also supports women in accessing loans from the Bank for Social Policies, credit funds, etc. At the same time, 100% of the Association's specialized staff from the provincial to grassroots levels have been trained in methods to support women in starting businesses, becoming the core force to help realize business ideas right from the grassroots level.

Starting a business is not only a way to get rich, but also a journey to affirm the economic power and role of women in the family and society. Through practical implementation, Project 939 in Quang Ninh has helped thousands of women overcome their fear, become the owners of production models, become directors of cooperatives, and pillars of the family economy. Many people who used to be idle farm workers now have stable incomes, actively contributing to the construction of new rural areas and civilized urban areas.

In particular, the Project is effective for vulnerable groups of women such as people with disabilities, ethnic minority women, single women... Thereby not only contributing to sustainable poverty reduction, but also reducing domestic violence, social evils, building a safe, united and developed community.

Shredded pork products are processed at Thao Nguyen clean and delicious shredded pork production facility (Cua Ong ward).

Along with that, women entrepreneurs clubs are increasingly developing, becoming a place to connect, share experiences and support each other in business. From 2018 to present, the clubs have organized many practical activities such as trade connections, seminars, study tours inside and outside the province. In particular, in 2023, the Provincial Women Entrepreneurs Association was established, marking a new step of development, affirming the increasingly clear role of women entrepreneurs in local economic development.

From the solid foundation that has been achieved. The Provincial Women's Union has determined that in the 2026-2035 period, it will focus on supporting women to start businesses and start businesses in the direction of digital transformation, green development, inclusiveness and sustainability. Priority subjects are still disadvantaged women, ethnic minority women, women working in agriculture, OCOP products and women who are initially transforming their business models to a digital environment, green economy, and circular economy. Activities will focus on training in management skills, digital technology, brand building, expanding consumption channels through e-commerce platforms; supporting flexible access to finance...

Nguyen Hoa

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/de-an-khoi-nghiep-939-tiep-suc-phu-nu-lam-chu-kinh-te-3364580.html