Hanoi (VNA) – Winners of the women startupcompetition 2023 were awarded at a ceremony held by the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU)Central Committee in Hanoi on October 14.

Praising the 33 projects shortlisted for the final round and thewinners, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly valued the VWU’s fruitful implementationof the plan on supporting women to start businesses, which he said has substantiallycontributed to the nationwide startup movement, gender equality, andcomprehensive and sustainable national development.

He emphasised women’s enormous dedications to nationalconstruction and safeguarding throughout history, and that entrepreneurship andinnovation are important impetuses for the development of each country.

Over the recent past, the Party and State have issued and effectivelyimplemented many policies and mechanisms to encourage entrepreneurship andinnovation. Women, who account for more than 50% of the population and nearly48% of the workforce in the country, have been given special attention and favourableconditions, he noted.

Women’s contributions via startups have greatly helped with notonly national economic development but also the settlement of social issues, politicaland social stability, and improvement of people’s material and spiritual lives,according to the Government leader.

PM Chinh applauded the theme of the 2023 competition, whichfocuses on the capitalisation of native resources to encourage entrepreneurshipamong women as well as the preservation and promotion of traditional culture tocreate new products and services, minimise environmental impact, and create jobopportunities for local communities.

Hesaid that he is impressed with women’s bold startup ideas and efforts to revivetraditional crafts, optimise their hometowns’ tourism resources, and make useof all the things blessed by nature from bamboo, rice to herbal plants tocreate high-value products deeply imbued with Vietnam’s cultural identities.

ThePM voiced his respect for remarkable efforts by the women in mountainousand ethnic minority areas, disabled ones, or those with disadvantages to show theirstrong entrepreneurial spirit.

Asthe startup ecosystem in Vietnam has yet to live up to its potential or keep upwith others in the region and the world, women still encounter an array ofdifficulties for starting businesses, and the country is facing global economic“headwinds”, women should make stronger efforts by themselves. Besides, theGovernment, ministries, sectors, localities, VWU units at all level, domesticand foreign enterprises also need to support and create conditions for women inthis regard, PM Chinh pointed out.

VWU President Ha Thi Nga said the VWU had proposed and beenassigned by the PM to chair the implementation of the plan on supporting womento start businesses during 2017 - 2025.

Overthe last six years, more than 80,000 business ideas of women have receivedassistance, over 70,000 women started their businesses, nearly 5,000 women-managedcooperative groups and cooperatives been set up, and over 60,000 newly-establishedfirms of women given advice to improve capacity and gaining access to resourcesfor development.

Theannual women startup competition is an outstanding activity in this plan,attracting the participation of women across the country, she said, adding thatthis year’s competition received 2,024 entries, 53.8% of which are in the formof cooperatives or cooperative groups.

Atthe ceremony, PM Chinh and VWU leaders presented awards to winners and insigniato the 33 shortlisted entries./.