More than 300 women entrepreneurs discussed ways to boost their businesses at the Women Entrepreneurs Forum, entitled ‘Key to success in the Digital Age’, in Ha Noi on Friday.

The event was organised by the Viet Nam Women Entrepreneurs Council (VWEC) as part of Facebook’s #SheMeansBusiness, an initiative that celebrates and empowers women entrepreneurs across the country.

The forum was a chance for speakers and participants to discuss how to create a better environment to empower women entrepreneurs looking to gain the digital marketing skills they need to start and grow a business online.

“Industry 4.0 is a great revolution that requires the active roles of all levels, sectors and businesses, especially women. Technology solutions and smart applications give women entrepreneurs the ability to overcome barriers and embrace business opportunities to succeed,” Vice President of Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Hoang Quang Phong said at the event.

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

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

“Small businesses are the backbone of the Vietnamese economy and our goal is to help women business owners embrace opportunities to support themselves, their families and communities to contribute 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 marketing and business skills through 41 workshops across 25 cities in Viet Nam. Facebook remains committed to helping more women entrepreneurs prosper in Viet Nam and aims to inspire more women in Viet Nam to start their own businesses, according to Lim.

Statistics from the Viet Nam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (VINASME) shows that SMEs, including micro enterprises, contributed 45 per cent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), and accounted for nearly 98 per cent of total businesses.

A study conducted by Development Economics and YouGov on behalf of Facebook, revealed that four in five women in Viet Nam would like to start a business. If only half of these women were empowered to start a business today, it would not only boost economic growth, but also help to build 1.1 million new businesses, and create 3.9 million additional jobs – all by the end of 2021. – VNS