Hanoi, 13 March 2013 – Vietnam Women’s Union, the World Bank in Vietnam and the UN Women in Vietnam today officially launched the “Vietnam Women’s Innovation Day 2013” (VWID 2013) Program with the theme “Women’s Economic Empowerment”.
Present at the launching ceremony were Mdm. Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa, Member of the Party’s Central Committee and President of Vietnam Women’s Union, Ms. Victoria Kwakwa, Country Director for the World Bank in Vietnam, Ms. Suzette Mitchell, UN Women Country Representative and representatives from various ministries, agencies, central organizations and Hanoi agencies.
In her opening speech, Vietnam Women’s Union President Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa said: “The Women’s Innovation Day under the theme “Women’s Economic Empowerment” aims to identify and praise women individual and groups for their innovations, and to encourage and bring into reality the innovative ideas on women’s economic empowerment. The Vietnam Women’s Innovation Day 2013 is also an opportunity for those with ideas and efforts in economic development to meet and share with each other, as well as policy makers their experience, solutions and innovations, and to network in a cooperative economy.”
Speaking at the event, Ms. Suzette Mitchell, Country Representative of UN Women in Viet Nam, stressed that “The Vietnam Women’s Innovation Day 2013 offers us opportunities to identify women’s empowerment initiatives that think “outside the box” and act beyond existing, predefined parameters and traditional interventions. Taking into account the innovations, we can improve the lives of women and girls in Vietnam and make gender equality a reality”.
The World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Ms. Victoria Kwakwa emphasized the importance of close coordination between development partners and the Government in making progress in gender issues in Vietnam. “This is the first time the World Bank coorganizes the VID with two partners – the Vietnam Women’s Union and UN Women. I am delighted about this partnership and confident that it will enhance the impact of this year’s VID in promoting women’s economic empowerment.”
The VWID 2013 program seeks and supports initiatives of economic empowerment for women, with sub-themes of 1) Women entrepreneurs (including women being owners and managers of enterprises and owners of household business); 2) Women’s Empowerment in Business and Production; and 3) Decent Work for Women.
At least 20 awards, each worth a maximum of 15,000 USD will be presented to the most innovative and practical proposal for implementation.
The program will be conducted from March to October 2013 and conclude on the Vietnam Women’s Day 20th October 2013 with 3 major activities:
1. Seeking and supporting innovative proposals which are capable of empowering and enhancing economic capacity of women;
2. Honoring innovative products of women in economic development by means of exhibiting and awarding typical innovative products
3. Holding a conference to honor women with good economic achievements, and a forum to exchange views and share experience.
Proposals must be submitted by 17h00 on 30th June 2013 at the latest, and the Final Round of the Innovation Competition and the Knowledge Exchange activity will be organized in October 2013 in Hanoi.
