Candidates are presenting their innovative business ideas
There are 12 women who are the owners of small and medium-sized enterprises from 10 member economies of APEC. These are also typical businesses selected and recommended by the economies.
In the opening speech, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, Chairwoman of the Vietnamese Women's Union (VWU), affirmed that this is a special event within the framework of the ongoing APEC Women and the Economy 2017 Forum in Hue city, aiming to introduce women's projects from different economic sectors, contributing to boosting the economic potential of women in APEC economies.
Ms Nguyen Thi Thu Ha affirmed that, with 97% of total businesses in APEC, contributing 60% of GDP, creating 60% of jobs, small and medium-sized enterprises play the backbone role of the economy as a driving force to promote the growth, innovation and creativity of each member and each region.
In Vietnam, small and medium-sized enterprises account for 97% of businesses, contributing 41% of GDP, 33% of budget revenues, creating 77% of jobs; in which, women-owned businesses account for 28% of the total. The government is setting a target to 2020 that the percentage of women-owned businesses is over 35%.
With the Russian initiative, the APEC BEST Award focuses on small and medium-sized enterprises applying digitization, traditional enterprises, social enterprises – which are business groups dynamic and socially responsible, but also vulnerable in the digital age.
At the forum of awards, the candidates brought to the contest many ideas and presentations showing the dynamic and creativity in business, and the updated competition in the age of digital economy.
Story, photo: Phong Binh - Linh Chi