Hanoi (VNA)– Women-owned businesses have had to work harder and actively made changes to adapt to and lead their businesses to overcome difficulties,especially those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Efforts made by Vietnamese businesswomen have not only helped their businessesmaintain operations and gain successes, but also contributed to solving challengingproblems of the society.

According to asurvey by the Vietnam Women's Union, one out of every four private enterprises isled by women, and female labourers contribute  40 percent of the nation's wealth.

Women-led enterprises also show advantages as they employ morefemale workers, pay higher social insurance premiums, and help solve many socialchallenges.

According to NguyenThi Tuyet Minh, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council (VWEC), the COVID-19pandemic has severely impacted on many businesses, especially small andmedium-sized enterprises owned by women.

To increase resilience and help female-owned businesses speed uppost-pandemic recovery, Minh stressed that female entrepreneurs need toprioritise improving their corporate financial management knowledge, and promotethe spirit of innovation in order to find opportunities in difficulties.

The Government, sectorsand localities should also have more effective support policies and programmesto attract women's involvement in economic development.

Dau Anh Tuan, Director ofthe Legal Department at the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), who has chaired many scientific studies on gender equality, stressed that promotingwomen's entrepreneurship is an important priority.

Itis necessary to develop women's business associations, associations operatingin term of women's entrepreneurship to protect the interests of women-ledbusinesses, and promote cooperation and strengthen relations among businesswomen,he said.

Localitiesshould have policies to support women-owned businesses to have easier access tocredit resources, he added.

Meanwhile,Ngo Thi Thu Hang, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Bach Viet RegisterCo., Ltd. emphasised the necessity to raise public awareness of the role playedby women, eliminate gender preconception and discrimination, and does not promote unequal traditional values.

Centralagencies and localities should actively organise consultations and dialogueswith female entrepreneurs, women's business associations and clubs, and genderexperts on related issues, she said, adding that organisations representing women-ledbusinesses should also pay attention to improving their capacity and activelyjoining in building legal policies for their own interests./.