2023-01-19-亚开行-越南妇女拥有的中小企业的融资渠道（英）_70页_1mb

Financial Access of Women-Owned Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Viet Nam

By Diana Bialus, Le Thanh Tam, Nguyen Thi Thu Hien, Chu Hong Minh**(ADB Southeast Asia Working Paper Series No. 22, December 2022)**

---

Key Highlights & Findings

1. Female Business Ownership

• About 17% of Vietnamese companies are majority female-owned, and 27% are led by women.
• Most WSMEs are micro-sized, with limited access to bank finance due to reliance on retained earnings and personal savings.

2. Financial Service Usage

• 85% of WSMEs have banking accounts, but only 20% actively borrow from banks due to complex processes and strict collateral requirements.
• Female business owners prefer conservative borrowing and prioritize personal savings over external finance for business growth.

3. Credit Challenges

• Hard collateral is a major barrier, as women often lack access to high-value assets (e.g., land).
• Loan applications are frequently rejected due to incomplete financial documentation and lack of female-specific banking strategies.

4. Bank Performance

• 5 out of 27 surveyed banks (BIDV, SeABank, SHB, TPBank, VPBank) have dedicated strategies for WSMEs and collect gender-disaggregated data.
• WSMEs have a lower nonperforming loan (NPL) rate (1.86%) compared to SMEs overall (3.16%), making them attractive for banks.

5. Policy and Program Implementation

• The SME Support Law includes provisions for WSMEs, but enforcement is weak, especially in accessing credit guarantees and subsidies.
• COVID-19 exacerbated financial constraints, reducing SME activity and limiting WSME participation in support programs.

6. Recommendations

• Collect Gender-Disaggregated Data: Track WSME market segments and performance metrics.
• Improve Credit Guarantee Schemes: Restructure mechanisms to reduce barriers and promote digital tools.
• Bank Gender Lens Strategies: Develop tailored products, simplify processes, and train staff to better serve female entrepreneurs.
• Government Incentives: Promote lending to WSMEs as a hedge against portfolio risks and fund capacity-building programs.

---

Conclusion

Women-owned enterprises in Vietnam face persistent challenges in accessing finance but demonstrate strong repayment discipline. With targeted policies and institutional reforms, Viet Nam can unlock $80 billion in GDP growth by empowering female entrepreneurs and deepening financial inclusion.