The program is organized by Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX), United Nations entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), Vietnam Women’s Entrepreneurship Council (under the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry), International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Australian Embassy in Vietnam.
This is the 10th year the “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” event has been held globally, the 6th time Vietnam has participated and the first time at HNX. The event emphasizes the key role of the private sector in promoting gender equality and enhancing women’s economic empowerment, aiming for sustainable development of businesses and society.
Delegates join the “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” campaign at HNX on March 6th (Ms. Pham Thi Van Khanh – Director of BIDV Corporate Customers Department – stands 4th from the right).
In 2024, the United Nations has chosen the theme of International Women’s Day as “Investing in women: Accelerating the pace of development”. This year’s event calls on the private sector, especially securities and listed companies, to invest in the development of women and gender equality in the workplace, community and market.
During the panel discussion, speakers exchanged and shared policies and practices of businesses on gender equality, budget for gender-related activities to ensure that no one is left behind. Representative of BIDV, Ms. Pham Thi Van Khanh – Director of Corporate Customers Department – shared: In the process of development, BIDV always pays attention to comprehensive development of employees, especially women; becoming one of the leading banks in implementing the National Strategy on Gender Equality for the period 2021-2030. Currently, the proportion of female labor in leadership and management positions at BIDV accounts for about 55%; female employees with master’s degrees reach 62%, higher than the general minimum target of the Banking sector.
Ms. Pham Thi Van Khanh – Director of BIDV Corporate Customers Department (sitting in the middle), participating in the discussion on the theme “Investing in women: Accelerating the pace of development”.
In business activities, BIDV identifies small and medium enterprises owned by women (WSMEs) as a separate customer segment that needs attention and priority for development. Therefore, BIDV actively deploys comprehensive and diversified programs dedicated to WSME customers. Currently, the number of WSME customers at BIDV accounts for 23% of the total number of business customers.
Recently, BIDV has actively collaborated with domestic and international entities such as the State Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and local authorities to organize seminars, forums, training courses, financial connection programs, and trade promotion to effectively support the development of women-owned businesses. BIDV also cooperates with the Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council to implement activities to enhance financial capacity, business capacity, thereby increasing access to finance for women-owned enterprises. Especially, BIDV actively works with foreign financial institutions to attract preferential loan sources, aid sources for women-owned enterprises.
Recently, BIDV has launched the SMEasy digital platform () with the goal of providing maximum support to customers with financial and non-financial solutions. The program is designed according to the One-stop Shop model, providing comprehensive financial and non-financial solutions for customers, supporting the increase of internal strength, enhancing financial health and competitive capacity for small and medium-sized enterprises. The interface of the platform is specially designed for women entrepreneurs with the message “Shine together with small and medium-sized enterprises owned by women”.
Gender equality is one of the important goals of the Government, requiring the joint efforts of ministries, agencies, organizations and commercial banks. BIDV’s companionship with women-owned businesses in general and WSMEs in particular over the years has affirmed BIDV’s commitment in promoting gender equality, becoming a sustainable development partner of customers and society.
