ACTIVITIES ON ANNIVERSARY OF VIETNAM WOMEN’S UNION FOUNDATION OCTOBER 20th

 The first Women’s Innovation Day was organized by the Vietnam Women’s Union in 2011 to encourage and promote the spirit of competition, creativity of Vietnamese women in all areas. The Vietnam Women’s Innovation Day 2013 (VWID) was launched in March and concluded in October 2013. With the theme "Women's economic empowerment", VWID had 3 major activities: 1) Seeking and supporting innovative proposals that promote women’s economic empowerment; 2) Honoring and highlighting innovative products of women in economic development by means of exhibiting and awarding typical innovative products; and 3) Holding a forum to exchange views and share experiences o­n promoting women’s economic empowerment.

On October 1^st, the Vietnam Women's Innovation Day 2013 was opened at the Vietnam Women's Museum with the participation of 3 co-organizers, donors, embassies, international organizations, governmental ministries and agencies, collectives and individuals who generated innovative ideas and products in 2013. In the opening speech, VWU President Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa expressed her appreciation and admiration of the innovative products and ideas presented at VWID 2013. She also recognized the effective cooperation of the co-organizers and the support of donors for this important event. According to Ms. Victoria Kwakwa – WB Country Director –VWID 2013 would help honor, encourage and promote women's initiatives, and contribute to Vietnamese women's economic empowerment. Ms. Shoko Ishikawa – UN Women Country Representative, added that the event symbolized positive and progressive change towards better lives for women.

Three main activities of VWID 2013 took place between 1-2 October, 2013, specifically:

* Highlighting and Promoting Women’s Innovative Products. 130 research projects and innovative products were submitted by women from 57 provinces, cities and VWU subsidiary units. Among them, 38 research projects and products were showcased at the Exhibition “Women and Innovation 2013” at the Vietnam Women's Museum, a display that lasts until late October. The products were diversed, relating to science and technology, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, food processing industries, commercial services, and crafts. There was also a week-long expo of women entrepreneurs’ products with the participation of 30 women-headed enterprises from Hanoi and other provinces.

* Innovation Grants: Among 219 innovative ideas and projects, the Organizing Committee selected 30 innovative ideas for the final round. Of these, 8 outstanding innovative proposals were chosen to be funded for implementation in 2014. Most of the awarded ideas were related to ​​women of ethnic minorities, poor women, single women, women with disabilities and women in the remote and island areas. According to regulations, each project could be awarded US$15,000 at the maximum, equivalent to 300 million VND, and the project wss to be implemented in a year from the date of fund disbursement. Jurors came from co-organizers, donors, international organizations, embassies, development agencies, and governmental ministries and agencies.

* Forum to Exchange Experiences o­n Promoting Women’s Economic Empowerment: o­n the afternoon of October 2^nd, a forum chaired by VWU, UN Women, VCCI and ILO was held to share lessons and experiences in enhancing women's leadership in businesses, and promoting gender equality and women's economic empowerment. Vietnamese and international participants discussed and analysed issues facing female entrepreneurs today, such as opportunities and challenges for Vietnamese women entrepreneurs; entrepreneurship development for young women; and gender equality and women empowerment in businesses in Vietnam. Speakers also introduced Korean experience in promoting women entrepreneurs’ innovation, and how the empowerment principles were applied in Japanese and Vietnamese enterprises.

VWID 2013 attracted high attention in the country and received positive comments from international partners. Attending as a guest and jury member, Ms. Han Mi Young, President of the World Women Inventors and Entrepreneurs Association (WWIEA), shared:

“I was so impressed that many Vietnamese women from all over the country participated in this meaningful event. I do believe that women in Vietnam will continue to demonstrate their outstanding abilities and lead the future in Vietnam. In addition, I was especially impressed with the newly built network for cooperation between VWU and other institutes such as UN Women, USAID and World Bank, etc.”

CONFERENCE TO HONOR WOMEN WITH GOOD ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENTS.Also o­n this occasion, VWU held a conference to honor women with good economic development achievements in the 2002 - 2013 period. The event took place at the Opera House (Hanoi) o­n the evening of October 2^nd, to honor 203 women collectives and individuals. The reports made at the conference were vivid evidence of the role and capabilities of women in economic development, their active participation and effective contributions to poverty reduction in Vietnam over the past 10 years. Through various movements such as “Women’s mutual assistance in household economic development”, “Helping poor women with targeted addresses”, “Building Affection Houses”, and “Practice thrift to follow the example of Ho Chi Minh”, from 2002 to June 2013, over 11 million impoverished women have been assisted with 4,752 billion VND worth of funds, seeds, and labour. In addition, about 14,150 affection houses have been built and repaired, which cost approximately 488 billion VND. The WUs supported families affected by natural disasters and other accidents with funds totaling over 587 billion VND. Over a million disadvantaged children were also assisted with 130 billion VND.

At the conference, o­n behalf of the Party and State leaders, Mr. Nguyen Thien Nhan - Chairman of the Central Committee of the Fatherland Front, Deputy Prime Minister - praised the significant contribution of the Vietnam Women’s Union and the women at large to poverty reduction, economic development and social security. He also expressed his strong belief in the Vietnam Women's Union’s ability to effectively support women in economic development.

Exemplary women in business had the honor to meet the State President at the Presidential Palace. Mr. President highly appreciated the VWU’s practical support for women’s development, and considered this Conference very meaningful in the context of the economy’s facing many difficulties. He encouraged VWU to provide more effective assistance to women so as there are more and more exemplary women in doing business, thus to contribute to the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing poverty and to the general development of the country.

To conclude the series of events, o­n the evening of October 2nd, the VWU held the Vietnamese Women Awards Ceremony at the Hanoi Opera House with the attendance of the Party and State leaders. Speaking at the ceremony, VWU President Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa affirmed the proud traditions of Vietnamese women, acknowledged the dedication and contributions of women from all strata, and praised achievements of individuals and collectives awarded at this event. At the ceremony, two exemplary collectives and individuals in doing business were awarded the Third-class Labour Order, 63 women collectives and individuals presented Certificates of Merit from the Prime Minister, 15 collectives and individuals conferred the Vietnam Women awards, 138 exemplary women collectives and individuals in business presented Certificates of Merit from VWU, 38 innovators of the products being showcased at the Exhibition “Women and Innovation 2013”. Authors of 8 winning innovative proposals, 6 female medalists at 2013 regional and international Olympiads, and 39 female students who came first in the 2013 university entrance examinations were awarded Certificates of 

of Merit from VWU.

VWU President Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa and Chairwomen of the National Assembly's Committee for Social Affairs Truong Thi Mai present Vietnam Women Awards to individuals.