Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - More than 300women entrepreneurs discussed ways to boost their businesses at the WomenEntrepreneurs Forum, entitled ‘Key to success in the Digital Age’, in Hanoi on October26.

The event was organised by the Vietnam WomenEntrepreneurs Council (VWEC) as part of Facebook’s #SheMeansBusiness, an initiativethat celebrates and empowers women entrepreneurs across the country.

The forum was a chance for speakers andparticipants to discuss how to create a better environment to empower womenentrepreneurs looking to gain the digital marketing skills they need to startand grow a business online.

“Industry 4.0 is a great revolution thatrequires the active roles of all levels, sectors and businesses, especiallywomen. Technology solutions and smart applications give women entrepreneurs theability to overcome barriers and embrace business opportunities to succeed,”Vice President of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Hoang QuangPhong said at the event.

Nguyen Thi Tuyet Minh, Chairwoman of VWEC andVice President of the Central Council of Vietnam Business Associations saidthat women faced many challenges in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

However, Minh said if women actively learned andembrace technology, they could grasp opportunities to start their own businessand run it effectively at low cost by leveraging technology solutions.

“Small businesses are the backbone of theVietnamese economy and our goal is to help women business owners embraceopportunities to support themselves, their families and communities tocontribute to the country’s growth,” Beth Ann Lim, Head of Community Affairs,APAC, Facebook said.

One year after the launch of the#SheMeansBusiness initiative, nearly 3,000 women have gained digital marketingand business skills through 41 workshops across 25 cities in Vietnam. Facebookremains committed to helping more women entrepreneurs prosper in Vietnam andaims to inspire more women in Vietnam to start their own businesses, accordingto Lim.

Statistics from the Vietnam Association of Smalland Medium Enterprises (VINASME) shows that SMEs, including micro enterprises,contributed 45 percent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), andaccounted for nearly 98 percent of total businesses.

A study conducted by Development Economics andYouGov on behalf of Facebook, revealed that four in five women in Vietnam wouldlike to start a business. If only half of these women were empowered to start abusiness today, it would not only boost economic growth, but also help to build1.1 million new businesses, and create 3.9 million additional jobs – all by theend of 2021. –VNS/VNA