The program aims to advise and support 50,000 women-owned or women-managed businesses in accessing finance.
The signing ceremony between the State Bank of Vietnam and the Vietnam Women's Union. - (Photo: SBV)
The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) and the Vietnam Women’s Union signed a cooperation programme for 2026–2030 on October 19.
The program marks a shift in how financial support is delivered to women, moving beyond channelling credit to union members through entrusted lending schemes towards expanding financial service networks. It will combine access to credit with training in business management, digital transformation and market connectivity.
By 2030, the program aims to advise and support 50,000 women-owned or women-managed businesses in accessing finance, while strengthening at least 1,500 cooperatives and 10,000 cooperative groups.
Alongside expanding credit access, the initiative will prioritise financial literacy, financial management and digital banking skills for women. It aims to equip 100% of heads of borrowing groups with digital skills according to a phased implementation roadmap.
The program will also encourage digital payment models and the development of digital banking products and services. These efforts are intended to help women digitise their production and business activities while promoting environmentally friendly business models.
The initiative builds on an established lending network. By the end of 2025, policy credit loans channelled through local branches of the Women’s Union at the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies had exceeded VND153.4 trillion (approximately $5.8 billion), serving nearly 2.5 million customers.