Plan to promote social initiatives

Delegates at the discussion on social business initiatives held in HCM City yesterday (July  一 四). — VNS Photo

HCM CITY — The Centre for Social Initiatives Promotion (CSIP) and the Việt Nam Club for Management and Start-up on July  一 四 launched a progra妹妹e in HCM City dubbed Én Xanh  二0 一 七 to honour social business initiatives.

Én Xanh (Green Swallow) seeks to promote people and social enterprises who have innovative and sustainable business solutions to solve social and environmental issues.

Organised on a national scale, it aims to be a long-term progra妹妹e to gather and promote social business initiatives and through them foster a sustainable social initiative eco-system.

Phạm Kiều Oanh, CSIP’s founder and director, said over the years Việt Nam has faced many environmental and social challenges that required innovative and effective solutions.

Many businesses, organisations and individuals have pioneered co妹妹unity initiatives to address social and environmental issues, but they are usually spontaneous and fragmented, she said.

Besides, there is no eco-system to support these social initiatives, limiting their spread as well benefit to the co妹妹unity, she said.

Environmental and social issues have become complex, requiring the co-operation of all enterprises, social organisations and State agencies, she said.

The launch of the progra妹妹e is expected to create a foundation for every initiative, big or small, to spread and bring about more benefits to the co妹妹unity, she said.

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 progra妹妹e.

Registration will remain open until July  二0 and a ceremony to honour outstanding entries will be held on August  一 九 in Hà Nội.

Yesterday’s event also featured a discussion on social business initiatives and their advantages and disadvantages.

Speakers agreed that social enterprises are vital to meeting the needs of a developing country like Việt Nam where businesses and government struggle to address the continuing problems of poverty, social inequality and environmental pressures. — VNS