Strengthening cooperation to promote women’s role in Vietnam and South Africa

07/09/2023
On the afternoon of August 16th, the Vietnam Women's Union in collaboration with the Embassy of South Africa in Hanoi organized the hybrid Seminar "The role of Vietnamese and South African women in national economic development: Building partnerships towards shared prosperity" in Hanoi.
Participants touring the photo exhibition

The seminar aims to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between women of the two countries, contributing practically to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and South Africa (December 22nd 1993 – December 22nd 2023).

Attending the seminar were VWU Vice - President Ms. Tran Lan Phuong, South African Ambassador to Vietnam Ms. Vuyiswa Tulelo, Ambassador of Vietnam to South Africa Mr. Hoang Sy Cuong, the delegation of Mpumalanga province (South Africa), representatives from central and provincial Women’s Unions, members of female entrepreneur Club of Hanoi, embassies and international organizations, some agencies in Vietnam and South Africa.

VWU Vice - President Tran Lan Phuong speaking at the Seminar

Speaking at the opening of the seminar, VWU Vice - President Tran Lan Phuong affirmed that the cooperation between the two countries was constantly developing, with many achievements in important fields such as politics, diplomacy, national defense, security, trade, investment, agriculture, etc. In particular, Vietnamese and South African women are gradually promoting exchanges and connections to enhance understanding and cooperation opportunities between the two sides.

Regarding women’s role in national economic development, Ms. Phuong pointed out that women in the two countries had not yet reached their full potential. Women still face barriers and challenges such as gender stereotypes in business, the burden of unpaid domestic work, lower average income than men for the same type of work, the proportion of female workers having vocational training is not high, the high risk of unemployment in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

South African Ambassador to Vietnam Ms. Vuyiswa Tulelo speaking at the Seminar

South African Ambassador to Vietnam Ms. Vuyiswa Tulelo expressed her pleasure and appreciation that the VWU co-organized the seminar because this was an opportunity to connect and raise the voices of women of the two countries and offer exchanges of cooperation in the coming time. She said that South African women played many roles in society. South Africa has applied various programs to support women to start businesses and empower women such as incubation programs, youth development centers, artisan development training and youth empowerment programs. The Ambassador said that it was necessary to ensure that more and more women would participate as entrepreneurs in the socio-economic development between the two countries.

Speakers and participants from the two countries shared information, experiences and proposed solutions on promoting women's participation in national economic development. The participants also discussed possibilities to strengthen connectivity and cooperation to promote the role of Vietnamese and South African women in the country's economic development in the coming time, contributing to strengthening the friendship between Vietnam and South Africa.

Participants at the Seminar

On this occasion, participants had the opportunity to see the exhibition "Vietnamese women - moments" and pictures of the cooperation between the Vietnam Women's Union and South African women.

Translated by VWU International Relations Dept.

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