MI TRAINEES HOLD NATIONAL WORKSHOPS ON WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR EXPORT BUSINESS

Trade and Investment Facilitation

Participants and cooperation partners of MI’s Regional Training Program on “Promoting Women Entrepreneurship for Export Business” organized four national workshops as part of their action plan implementation. The national workshops were held on August 24-26, 2017 in Yangon, Myanmar; September 5-6, 2017 in Vientiane, Lao PDR; September 20-21, 2017 in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam; and September 29-October 1, 2017 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. A total of 100 women entrepreneurs attended the workshops. 

The 26 female trainees in the said regional training program adapted the workshop modules based on the local participants’ needs. They also served as resource persons in the national workshops. Bankers and freight forwarders were also invited to share about the export business. 

MI staff provided technical assistance during the workshops and discussed with the training participants the development of their export market and/or business plan as part of Phase Three in November. They also conducted company visits and interviews with selected participants to gain a better understanding of the business status, and opportunities and challenges for women-led enterprises especially those in the export business.  

Participants in the national workshops remarked that it was one of the first opportunities that gathered women entrepreneurs together and allowed them to learn from each other’s business and export practices. The workshop also served as a venue for networking and showcasing their products. 

The national workshops are part of the one-year project on “Make the Market Work for the Less Developed Countries in CLMV,” sponsored by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada. The project seeks to provide a platform for both prospective and existing entrepreneurs representing small and medium-sized enterprises and business development services providers in the CLMV to share and learn about the latest tools and techniques for business development and promotion for the export market. The action plan implementation is the second phase of the project following the two-week regional training program held at the MI Headquarters in July this year.

Related News

Scroll to Top

Mrs. Guohua Liu

Director, Sustainable Energy & Environment (SEE) Department

Mrs. Liu Guohua is the Director of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Department at the Mekong Institute. Prior to this role, she worked in the Department of International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, where she played a key role in shaping and implementing China’s cooperation strategies with UN development agencies. During this time, Mrs. Liu was actively involved in advancing initiatives related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on climate change and green development. Additionally, she contributed to the evaluation of projects funded by various Chinese initiatives, such as the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, etc.

In addition to her work in the Department of International Economic Affairs, Mrs. Liu has an extensive diplomatic background. She spent 7 years in the Department of African Affairs, followed by a 4-year tenure at the Chinese Embassy in Lao PDR, where she gained deep expertise in both Southeast Asian and African affairs. These diverse experiences have played a crucial role in shaping her approach to sustainable development and international collaboration, particularly in building regional partnerships and tackling global challenges like climate change.

She holds a Master’s degree in Economics, with a specialization in Finance, from the Central University of Finance and Economics, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, specializing in International Economics and Trade, from the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics.