With the theme "Cultural Diversity, Equality, and Inclusivity - Important Factors in ESG Sustainable Development," the forum served as an opportunity for VBCWE to summarize the results of 5 years of Gender Diversity and Inclusion (GD&I) implementation in private sector businesses. Business leaders and managers came together to discuss and share goals and successful practices in ESG sustainable development, emphasizing the value of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusivity (DE&I) within enterprises.

The forum attracted significant attention from businesses.

Diversity, Equality, and Inclusivity (DE&I) is an essential trend and a goal pursued by many businesses on the journey of sustainable development. DE&I is a crucial element associated with the S - Social factor in ESG (Environment - Social - Governance), where businesses create an equal environment for employees, an environment that makes them proud, confident, and true to themselves, without gender discrimination, family circumstances, or differences in individuals' backgrounds.

Empowering women economically is not only a fundamental aspect of promoting gender equality but also an important factor in enhancing the competitiveness of businesses, driving comprehensive economic growth, and building a just society. In the ASEAN region, there have been numerous programs aimed at investing in women, utilizing innovative methods to improve women's economic participation as employees and entrepreneurs, while also impacting the enabling environment to promote economic empowerment for women. These programs include initiatives such as Workplace Gender Equality (WGE) programs, gender-responsive investments in small and medium-sized businesses with women as owners, and influencing gender norms. One of the notable programs implemented in Vietnam with the imprint of VBCWE is the WGE program.

In the past 5 years in Vietnam, with the support of the Australian Government through the Investing in Women project, the Vietnam Business Council for Women's Empowerment (VBCWE) has made pioneering strides in promoting gender equality in the workplace, focusing on the private sector. It has contributed to creating equal and fair value for workers. It has also strongly promoted the elements of diversity and inclusivity (D&I), increasing employment opportunities and job quality for women, expanding and targeting the female workforce in industrial zones, women with disabilities, women-owned businesses, and employment opportunities linked to childcare and support policies. Training and enhancing soft skills and technology are part of the efforts to enable workers to accelerate and align with employment trends in the context of developing intellectual technologies. These are the goals that VBCWE aims to achieve in the next 5-year development phase. They are also among the objectives pursued by the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD).

Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh, Vice Chairman of VCCI and Chairman of VBCSD, states: Diversity, inclusivity, and equality will create a highly certain and competitive advantage for businesses.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh, Vice Chairman of VCCI and Chairman of VBCSD, emphasizes that diversity, inclusivity, and equality are exceptional attributes, and businesses that possess these elements will undoubtedly gain a strong and superior competitive edge. Additionally, they demonstrate resilience and a stronger ability to recover from crises compared to other businesses.

Mr. Vinh also mentions: "For the past 4 years, VBCSD-VCCI has closely collaborated with VBCWE in organizing the Sustainable Business Assessment and Disclosure Program (CSI) in Vietnam. The CSI program in 2023 marks the third year in which we include a special category awarding 'Pioneering Businesses in Building and Implementing Diversity and Inclusivity Culture' in the program's structure. Following the launch of CSI 2023 on May 31, VBCSD is coordinating with VBCWE and other partners to organize training sessions and workshops on sustainable business management, linked to the development of diversity, inclusivity, and equality culture. Through these efforts, we aim to encourage the Vietnamese business community to keep up with the sustainable development trend associated with diversity, inclusivity, and equality culture, thereby building a solid foundation for sustainable business development."

Ms. Ha Thu Thanh, Chairwoman of VBCWE, emphasizes the role of VBCWE in the 5-year period: "The mission of VBCWE is to promote the sustainable development of businesses and the business community by connecting and converging pioneering businesses in creating and honoring the values of diversity and inclusivity in the corporate culture. We accompany businesses in building a happy working environment through the development of diverse and inclusive culture linked to gender equality. We spread the values of inclusive and gender-equal culture in the workplace to the business community, inspiring and influencing the perception and actions of businesses, and bringing values associated with sustainable development of human resources on the sustainable development journey for businesses in Vietnam."

VBCWE is also proud to receive the support of its first important partner, the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD) under the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

During the forum, Mr. Le Nhan Tam, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Microsoft Vietnam, provided insights and updates on the trends in human resource development related to the D, E & I factors, as well as opportunities and job quality for women in the era of AI intelligence technology. Specific sharing about the values that D, E & I bring to businesses was also shared by Mr. Van Tien Thanh, CEO of PetroVietnam Fertilizer and Chemicals Corporation (PVCFC), from the perspective of a listed company, and Ms. Tran Thuy Trang, Director of Human Resources and Training at Deloitte Vietnam, shared from the perspective of a global company.

Presenting the certification for the assessment of gender equality implementation in the workplace using the GEARS tool.

Within the framework of the forum, three businesses continue to be honored for their efforts in promoting gender equality in the workplace and receive the GEARS (Gender Equality Advantage in Realizing Sustainable Development) certification... including PetroVietnam Fertilizer and Chemicals Corporation (PVCFC), Phuc Khang Investment and Construction Corporation, and Bao Minh Confectionery Joint Stock Company. This expands the network of influential and large-scale member businesses such as Deloitte Vietnam, EVN Corporation, Traphaco, and Alphanam.

The VBCWE 2023 Business Forum "Diverse, Inclusive, and Comprehensive Culture - Key Elements in Sustainable ESG Development" serves as an opportunity for VBCWE to announce the direction for Phase 2 of the Investing in Women project and the activities to be implemented with the goal of supporting and promoting the improvement of Women's Employment Quality (with a focus on promoting green industrial zones through the Child Care program - childcare in industrial zones, policy impact and employment opportunities, Women with disabilities connected to Technology & Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Established in January 2018 as part of the Investing in Women project by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Vietnam Business Coalition for Women's Empowerment (VBCWE) is a pioneering and professional organization that connects, supports, and promotes the development of a diverse and inclusive culture with gender equality in the workplace. It serves as a crucial platform for sustainable development for businesses in Vietnam.

VBCSD is an organization oriented towards businesses with the mission of harnessing the positive role and enthusiastic support of the business community in implementing the Sustainable Development Strategy in Vietnam. It facilitates the sharing of experiences and best practices, enhances close coordination and dialogue among the business community, the government, and social partners to promote sustainable development.