Amidst a spike in COVID-19 cases and mobility restrictions in Vietnam, the investor community in Vietnam showed their commitment to the agenda of Gender Lens Investing in the online event Gender Lens Investing in Practice: Investment Showcase on 17 June.
AVPN, a pan-Asian network for social investors, organised the second instalment of the event, which included the launch of South East Asia’s Gender Lens Investing Report and live pitches from four leading women entrepreneurs in Vietnam. Eminent investors and business leaders participated in the event online.
Joining forces with AVPN, the Australian and American Chambers of Commerce promoted the event through their business networks. The event was sponsored by Investing in Women.
“Gender lens investing is an important approach to expand access to finance for women entrepreneurs, but importantly it also opens up a lucrative and underserved market for commercial investors,” explained Australian Consul General Julianne Cowley. “The Gender Lens Investing in South East Asia Report offers key insights on industry trends, various entry points for the investors to adopt gender lens, and how it fits into their calculations of risks and returns.”
Value for Women, a specialised gender advisory firm based in London, presented the regional landscape of gender lens investing and shared strategies for investors to integrate this approach into their investment strategy.
Two leading impact investors in Vietnam—Patamar Capital and the Small Enterprise Assistance Funds—shared their gender lens investing journeys, which offered actionable advice to Vietnam’s investment community. Complimenting these investor presentations, four Vietnamese women entrepreneurs showcased their business models and funding needs. Investors in the audience were given an opportunity to ask questions of the entrepreneurs in the live session.
“With strong industry networks like AVPN, we aim to unlock the transformative power of Vietnam’s investor community for gender equality. Working with progressive business leaders, Investing in Women will continue to drive the agenda of investing in women’s SMEs and to increase female leadership in workplaces,” said Dr. Julia Newton-Howes, CEO, Investing in Women.
Increasing investments in women’s SMEs will have a multiplier effect in the local economy, creating and sustaining more quality jobs. To continue to promote this agenda, AVPN is planning to host a workshop on Gender Lens Investing with experts from Value for Women in July 2021.
Media Contacts
BINH DANG, Vietnam Country Manager, Investing in Women; +84 98 171 16 39; binh.dang@iwa.asia.
AISA ANGELES, Program Support Officer, Investing in Women; +63 2 5304 9153; aisa.angeles@iwa.asia.