The En Xanh (Blue Swallow) programme 2019 to honour social business initiatives was launched in Hanoi on July 24.

At a press conference to launch the En Xanh programme
(Photo courtesy of the organisers)

The programme is jointly hosted by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, the United Nations Development Programme and the Centre for Social Initiatives Promotion.

Compared to the first edition in 2017, the programme this year will look for and support business initiatives addressing challenges in sustainable agriculture, environment and climate change, sustainable tourism, and women empowerment, among others.

The En Xanh programme, which runs until October, is designed to help participants get access to financial sources from domestic and foreign investors worth up to 300,000 USD per idea. 

VCCI Chairman Vu Tien Loc said the programme, organised on a national scale, aims to be a long-term programme to gather and promote social business initiatives and through them foster a sustainable social initiative eco-system.

Social enterprises, businesses with initiatives that benefit low-income people, initiatives to address social and environmental issues, start-ups with social initiatives and social organisations are encouraged to join the programme.