Ms. Lê Hồng Thủy Tiên – Board Member of Cam Ranh International Terminal JSC: “When women rise, the economy rises.”

The WEPs Asia–Pacific International Forum 2025, themed “Business – Innovation – Impact,” took place from 18–19 November in Malaysia, attracting more than 200 business leaders, international organizations, policymakers, and capital market representatives from 15 countries. Organized by UN Women, the forum serves as a platform for sharing strategies that advance gender equality and strengthen women’s economic empowerment.

Ms. Lê Hồng Thủy Tiên spoke at the WEPs Asia–Pacific International Forum 2025.

The Vietnamese delegation included representatives from the Department of Private Enterprise Development and Collective Economy (Ministry of Finance), Vietnam Airlines, Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange, the Vietnam Institute of Directors (VIOD), and the Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council (VWEC). Their presence underscores strong collaboration between the Government and the business community in promoting gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.

During the TED-style Talks session, Ms. Lê Hồng Thủy Tiên, Board Member of Cam Ranh International Terminal Joint Stock Company (CRTC), joined distinguished speakers including the UN Resident Coordinator in Malaysia, Australia’s Ambassador for Gender Equality, the Chairperson of the Pakistan Stock Exchange, leaders from LinkedIn Southeast Asia, Microsoft, and various economic and financial institutions across the region.

She shared her personal journey of overcoming gender barriers—from childhood to becoming a CEO at the age of 25—leading an ecosystem of 1,500 stores, 35 member and joint-venture companies, and more than 25,000 employees, with women accounting for 70% of middle management roles.

She emphasized: “Leadership is not about standing above others, but lifting them to rise together. When women rise, the economy rises. Equality is not a slogan—it must become a guiding principle for action.”

Her talk was further illustrated through examples of women-led enterprises supported by IPPG, including a freeze-dried bird’s nest business, a trio of sisters producing organic silk in Hoi An, and Blue Saigon. Through IPPG, these businesses received support in packaging standardization, logistics, international retail requirements, and access to airport retail systems—demonstrating an effective model that combines technical support with market access, enabling sustainable growth for women-led SMEs.

Following her presentation, she was invited by UN Women to participate in an in-depth interview session on the role of buyers in expanding inclusion and driving market impact. She affirmed: “When major corporations proactively source from SMEs and women-led businesses, we create supply chains that are more sustainable, diverse, and innovative.” 

IPPG is currently implementing three strategic directions to promote gender equality and support SMEs:

1. Prioritizing procurement from women-led small and medium-sized enterprises;
2. Standardizing packaging, documentation, and traceability according to export and airport retail requirements;
3. Simplifying requirements, providing training, and enabling market connections to help SMEs access retail and aviation channels more easily.

She concluded: “When we choose gender-responsive procurement, we are not only developing a single business—but uplifting an entire community.”

The WEPs Asia–Pacific 2025 Forum stands as a powerful platform for leaders to share insights and strategies, highlighting the role of innovation, inclusiveness, and social responsibility in business. The concrete actions and strong commitments of women leaders like Ms. Lê Hồng Thủy Tiên demonstrate that gender equality is not only an ideal but a driving force for economic development—opening new opportunities for women across the Asia–Pacific region.