Continuing the success of the “Women’s Empowerment” programme over the past many years, BAT Vietnam launched this programme for 2024 on a larger scale.

On May 23, 2024, BAT Vietnam organized an event to disburse interest-free loans to 40 women from underprivileged households in My Quy Dong and My Thanh Tay communes in Duc Hue Districtand 30 more women in Nhon Hoa Lap Commune, Tan Thanh District.

This is an initiative through which BAT Vietnam desires to accompany underrepresented women to create their incomes sustainably and enhance their living conditions.

Tan Thanh and Duc Hue are two districts located in Dong Thap Muoi area of Long An province, where local residents are still facing difficult lives, mainly relying on agricultural practices. Some households have diversified into different crops, livestock, and small-scale trading, resulting in low income, unstable employment, and a lot of idle time.

In recent times, social security work, women's economic development support, disadvantaged households care in the districts have attracted much attention from various social and political agencies, and donators within and beyond those districts. Therefore, the "Women’s Empowerment” programme from BAT Vietnam aims to join hands with the local authorities to help disadvantaged households with access to financial sources for household economic development and sustainable poverty reduction, achieving advanced new rural areas.

Ms. Vo Thi Bich Thuy, Vice President of the Women’s Union of Duc Hue District, Long An Province, said: "In recent years, the ‘Women’s Empowerment’ programme from BAT Vietnam has helped many women, rural households in border communes of Duc Hue District. In general, women supported by the programme have effectively used the loans for the right purpose, creating opportunities for them to earn more income through maintaining and developing their family's livestock farming and trading. This has enabled them to escape from poverty, develop the household economy, and enrich their families legitimately.”

Meanwhile, Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Nhung, Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Tan Thanh District, Long An Province, also shared that this is the first time local women have the access to the “Women's Empowerment” programme of BAT Vietnam: “I appreciate the significance of the programme. The interest-free financial support model for women has a simple but extremely practical approach, helping families gradually stabilize their lives, as well as joining hands with local authorities to improve their livelihoods and incomes for women in particular and people in general.” Ms. Nhung added that this is a good opportunity for women in Nhon Hoa Lap commune to have stable jobs, improving their incomes and reducing their idle time.

Previously in 2023, 40 households in Duc Hue District were offered with interest-free loans from the programme for legal labor and business purposes. Among them, 11 households engaged in small businesses, 2 households provided catering services for events, and 27 households raised livestock and poultry. All of the loan-receiving households have been using the funds for their intended legal purposes.