Building an ecosystem connecting women entrepreneurs

Enterprises not only support each other in terms of farming techniques, but also bring their own machinery and equipment to support other cooperatives and small businesses in researching and developing products.

The idea of ​​linking arose from the pandemic

Starting a business in the agricultural sector, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu, Director - Founder of Impact Business Initiative Support Joint Stock Company (MEVI), understands the weakness in businesses, which is connectivity. This weakness is even more evident when there is an "incident". That was in 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic seriously affected businesses, especially small and medium enterprises. Agricultural products could not be exported, goods were stagnant. Trade between localities slowed down... The challenge for business owners in that context was to find a solution to the "problem" of designing a business model that adapts to the Covid-19 period.

"The pandemic has made people pay more attention to health issues and pay more attention to products of natural origin. This can be considered an opportunity for the agricultural processing industry in Vietnam," said Ms. Thu. That is the reason why she decided to establish MEVI, aiming for 3 criteria: Transparent products, products that have a livelihood impact for rural women, and products that have a positive impact on the environment.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu and members of her startup ecosystem

Focus on developing the chain of links, connecting micro-enterprises

Identifying the barriers of businesses, especially small and medium enterprises and micro-cooperatives owned by women, such as lack of connectivity and limitations in accessing and applying post-harvest processing technology in production, MEVI has gathered and connected businesses and cooperatives that already have factories and facilities to form an ecosystem. Businesses not only support each other in terms of farming techniques, but also bring their own machinery and equipment to support other cooperatives and small businesses in researching and developing products. Finally, the MEVI ecosystem will connect the products made and build a mechanism for cross-selling and product distribution cooperation.

"The solution proposed by MEVI is to support cooperatives and individual production and business establishments to find creative ideas for processed products and support cooperation with businesses that have factories, machinery and equipment, so that they can process and manufacture creative agricultural products. Through fieldwork in localities, I realized that no one understands the culture of a land better than the local people. Therefore, we started a "green" business together to develop sustainable agriculture ," said Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu.

Participating in this ecosystem, a number of cooperatives and cooperatives led by women have had innovative processed agricultural products and initially built a good distribution market such as: Yen Chau Mango Cake, Ban Ang Strawberry Vermicelli, ATC Lingzhi Mushroom, Bac Ninh Cold-Dried Water Spinach Powder with Rock Sugar, Yen Chau Ginger Pills, Vietherbes Celery Essence. This is the foundation for these businesses to join forces to create a developing ecosystem and expand their market.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/xay-dung-he-sinh-thai-ket-noi-phu-nu-khoi-nghiep-20240509165606968.htm