The IWEDI delegation included Ms. Hoang Thi Hanh, former Deputy Minister and Vice Chair of the Committee for ethnic minority affairs, now serving as senior advisor for the IWEDI Scientific Council; IWEC Chairwoman Le Thi Minh Hoa; Ms. Pham Thi Bich Thuy and Dr. Dao Trung Hieu, Vice Presidents; Ms. Jennifer Pham, Deputy Director of the Center for Communication and External Relations; and Dr. Luong Thu Hang, Chairwoman of the Board of the Institute for Oriental applied research.
On behalf of the Agriculture and Environment Magazine were Editor-in-Chief Dr. Dao Xuan Hung; Mr. Le Quang Huy, Head of the Economic Department; Ms. Hoang Thi Phuong, Head of the Editorial Department; Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long, Deputy Head of the Editorial Department; Ms. Hoang My Nghia, Acting Head of the Administrative Division; and various reporters and editors.

A strategic vision for long-term partnership

Opening the meeting, IWEC Chairwoman Le Thi Minh Hoa expressed deep appreciation to the leadership of the Journal for the warm welcome. She affirmed IWEDI’s strong desire to establish a strategic partnership with the Journal across research, media, training, and event coordination. “We are here in a spirit of goodwill, hoping to listen, connect, and co-implement practical, effective programs that amplify the voice of women entrepreneurs in agriculture and environmental policy,” she stated. IWEDI also proposed developing an MoU to formalize this partnership.

IWEDI Chairwoman Le Thi Minh Hoa expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and emphasized the Institute’s commitment to building a strategic partnership with the Magazine across research, media, training, and events

Responding to the initiative, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Dao Xuan Hung welcomed the cooperation proposal, emphasizing: “IWEDI’s initiative comes at a pivotal time. In the context of promoting green agriculture, climate adaptation, and rural revitalization, women entrepreneurs play a crucial role—not only economically, but also in preserving cultural values, protecting the environment, and fostering sustainable models.” He noted that although the Magazine was established only in March 2025, it builds on 80 years of tradition across eight publications in the agriculture and environment sectors. With eight distinct publications, including the OCOP edition (“One Commune One Product”), the Magazine provides an ideal platform to promote indigenous values through technology and modern communication.

Editor-in-Chief Dr. Dao Xuan Hung praised IWEDI’s efforts to elevate women entrepreneurs in economic development and affirmed the Journal’s commitment to supporting joint media, research, and networking initiatives in agriculture and environment.

Senior Advisor Ms. Hoang Thi Hanh—former Deputy Minister and a longtime advocate for rural and ethnic communities—delivered a heartfelt speech on her lifelong commitment to agriculture and education in upland regions. “When I was with the Northwest Steering Committee, we organized forums to honor ethnic minority women entrepreneurs. In those regions, women are central to livelihoods and climate adaptation, yet their contributions are often overlooked. I hope the Magazine and IWEDI can jointly organize local conferences to raise awareness among communities and local authorities about climate impacts and effective adaptation strategies,” she said.

Senior Advisor Hoang Thi Hanh called for joint efforts to raise awareness of climate impacts in ethnic minority regions, highlighting women’s vital yet often overlooked role in livelihoods and adaptation.

Ms. Hoang Thi Hanh stressed the importance of a structured, long-term cooperation program with a three-year roadmap divided into annual, quarterly, and monthly milestones—including planning, evaluation, and mobilization of external resources. “Even small actions like planting trees today can make a big difference in fighting climate change. If we act consistently and meaningfully, we will see real impact,” she affirmed.

From vision to action: A roadmap for implementation

Continuing the session, IWEDI Vice President Dr. Dao Trung Hieu presented a detailed proposal for joint action. By July–August 2025, both sides plan to finalize the MoU, establish a joint coordination team, and outline a regular feature titled “Women – Innovation – Sustainability” in the Magazine. From September onward, one or two scientific research projects will be jointly initiated to align with the Magazine’s communication priorities, accompanied by roundtable discussions focusing on the circular economy and green entrepreneurship. A dedicated section is expected to launch in October, with monthly in-depth articles and profiles of exemplary women. Toward the end of 2025, IWEDI and the Magazine plan to host a Women’s Innovation Forum in Agriculture and Environment, gathering 50–80 participants, with proceedings compiled into a digital publication.

IWEDI Vice President Dr. Dao Trung Hieu presented a detailed proposal for joint action

Vice President Ms. Pham Thi Bich Thuy proposed creating a dedicated column for IWEDI within the Magazine to highlight innovative models and the role of women entrepreneurs in green growth and knowledge-based economies. She emphasized the need to organize thematic conferences nationwide, including in southern provinces, to elevate women’s voices in agricultural innovation ecosystems. 

Ms. Pham Thi  Bich Thuy was also confirmed as IWEDI’s official liaison for coordination

Ms. Hoang Thi Phuong, Head of the Editorial Department, praised the intellectual support from IWEDI’s experts—particularly Ms. Hoang Thi Hanh and Dr. Luong Thu Hang—and confirmed the Magazine’s readiness to co-organize conferences, share academic expertise, and publish special issues. “We’ve already worked on climate-related content and look forward to expanding our efforts with your valuable support,” she said.

Dr. Luong Thu Hang, Chair of the Board at the Institute for Oriental Applied Research, and a longtime research collaborator with IWEDI, added: “It’s a pleasure to reconnect with the Journal. Our Institute has worked on digital transformation in the Mekong Delta, where the role of women in agricultural digitalization is essential. I’ll serve as a bridge to deepen this science and media partnership.”

Journalist Le Quang Huy, Head of the Economic Department and appointed as the Journal’s liaison, proposed developing a series of feature articles on women’s roles in rural development and poverty reduction, linked to national target programs. “Let’s start with concrete, manageable actions. Even large projects succeed when broken into feasible steps,” he noted.

Deputy Editor Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long described the session as “productive and action-oriented,” agreeing with the structured roadmap approach. “It matches the operational capacity of both sides and can lead to visible outcomes,” he said.

Jennifer Pham, IWEDI’s Deputy Director of Communication, expressed confidence in the partnership’s potential to amplify women’s leadership and promote innovation in agriculture and environment both locally and globally

Ms. Jennifer Pham, Deputy Director of IWEDI’s Communication and External Relations Center, voiced optimism about the road ahead: “We believe this partnership will help promote agricultural and environmental innovation, as well as women’s leadership, to wider communities—locally and internationally. Our center is fully committed to supporting all joint communication efforts.”

Concluding the session, Ms. Le Thi Minh Hoa emphasized the warm, open spirit of the meeting as a strong foundation for meaningful collaboration. She invited the Magazine to visit IWEDI’s headquarters in the coming week to finalize and sign the cooperation agreement. Editor-in-Chief Dr. Dao Xuan Hung echoed this momentum, proposing a symbolic joint tree-planting initiative to mark the beginning of a shared journey toward green agriculture, environmental sustainability, and the empowerment of women entrepreneurs in Vietnam.

Ngoc Huyen