2017年-世界发展银行全球_Women-Owned_Enterprises_in_Vietnam___Perceptions_and_Potential_80页_3mb

Summary of "Women-owned Enterprises in Vietnam: Perceptions and Potential"

Core Content

This report, authored by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), examines the role, challenges, and opportunities of women-owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam. It emphasizes the potential for banks to better serve this segment and highlights the misconceptions that currently hinder their recognition and support.

Main Findings

Women-Owned Enterprises in Vietnam

• Total: 95,906 women-owned enterprises, which account for about 21% of all formal enterprises in Vietnam.
• Breakdown:
  • 52% are microenterprises.
  • 42% are SMEs (the focus of this report).
  • 4% are large enterprises.
• Geographic Distribution:
  • 75% of women-owned SMEs are located in the Southeast and Red River Deltas.
• Ownership and Management:
  • 42% of women-owned enterprises have female staff.
  • 55% operate in retail and wholesale trade.
  • 15% are in manufacturing.
• Demographics:
  • Average age: 40 (compared to 54 for men).
  • 94% are running their first business.
  • Average employees: 34.
  • Annual revenue growth: 55% reported growth over the past two years.
  • Growth projections: 80% expect growth over the next two years.

Financial Characteristics

• Loan Access:
  • 37% of women-owned SMEs have accessed bank loans in the past two years, compared to 47% of men-owned SMEs.
  • Women tend to receive less financing than they request, and less than men.
• Credit Gap:
  • The estimated financing gap for women-owned SMEs is USD 1.19 billion.
• Loan Usage:
  • 67% of women-owned SMEs take business loans mainly for working capital.
  • 54% obtain loans from banks.
  • 33% of loan applications are rejected due to insufficient collateral.
• Loan Size:
  • The average outstanding loan size is similar between men and women, with USD 190,000 for women and USD 192,000 for men.

Key Misconceptions Addressed

1. Myth 1: Women entrepreneurs are more risk-averse

   • Reality: Risk-taking levels are similar between genders, but women are more analytical and meticulous in their risk assessment.

2. Myth 2: Women only focus on small businesses

   • Reality: Revenue levels between women and men-owned SMEs are similar, and both have similar growth strategies.

3. Myth 3: Women with children do not have time for business

   • Reality: Women entrepreneurs often juggle business and family responsibilities effectively with external and family support.

4. Myth 4: Women are less likely to repay loans

   • Reality: Women entrepreneurs have lower non-performing loan (NPL) rates than men (e.g., 0.95% vs. 2.17%).

5. Myth 5: Women only work in family businesses

   • Reality: Only 8% of women-led businesses are owned by or with a family member of the top manager.

6. Myth 6: Women need more financial education

   • Reality: Women and men require similar levels of support in financial management, but women are dissatisfied with the complexity and length of bank application processes.

7. Myth 7: Women do not engage in learning and networking

   • Reality: Women are eager to learn and network, especially through women-only platforms and practical capacity-building programs.

Opportunities for Banks

• Market Potential: Women entrepreneurs are profitable and low-risk customers.
• Financial Needs: They want to borrow more to invest in their businesses.
• Service Preferences:
  • More sensitive to customer service.
  • Prefer one relationship manager for both business and personal banking.
  • 37% use online and mobile banking, slightly higher than men (32%).
• Non-Financial Needs:
  • Desire business development support (e.g., training, marketing, branding).
  • Willing to pay up to USD 130 per month for high-quality courses.

Recommendations

1. Recognize Women-Owned SMEs as a Strategic Segment:

   • Banks should identify and tailor products to women-owned SMEs, as they are currently under-served.

2. Train Bank Staff on Gender Dimensions:

   • Provide gender sensitization training to better understand gender differences in needs and preferences.

3. Strengthen Non-Financial Services:

   • Offer business development services (BDS) to address gaps in financing, skills, and market access.

4. Collect Gender-Disaggregated Data:

   • Banks should track performance metrics by gender to improve risk profiling and service matching.

5. Raise Awareness:

   • Encourage Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) to improve data collection and dissemination on women-owned SMEs.

Methodology and Definitions

• Quantitative and Qualitative Research:

  • Demand Survey: 500 SME business owners or top managers (322 women-owned, 178 men-owned) were interviewed via tablet-based methods.
  • Supply Survey: Interviews with bank representatives to understand their strategies and challenges in serving women-owned SMEs.

• SME Definitions:

  • IFC Definition:
    • Micro: <10 employees, <USD 100,000 in annual sales.
    • Small: 10–49 employees, USD 100,000–3 million in annual sales.
    • Medium: 50–300 employees, USD 3–15 million in annual sales.
  • Government Definition:
    • Based on number of employees and total capital.
    • Micro: <10 employees, total capital <VND 20 billion.
    • Small: 10–200 employees, total capital VND 20–100 billion.
    • Medium: 200–300 employees, total capital VND 100–300 billion.

Conclusion

This report underscores the importance of women entrepreneurs in Vietnam's SME sector and challenges in accessing formal financial services. It argues that misconceptions about women's financial capabilities and preferences are harmful and can be challenged through better understanding and targeted services. The report concludes that by recognizing women as a unique customer segment, banks can capitalize on a growing market while also contributing to economic development.

Key Takeaways

• Women-owned SMEs are vital to Vietnam's economy, contributing to growth and employment.
• They are more profitable and less risky than their male counterparts.
• Banks have opportunities to improve service delivery and customer satisfaction by tailoring products and services to women's needs.
• Misconceptions need to be challenged to unlock the full potential of women entrepreneurs in the SME sector.