Laos to Chair AWEN Boosting Women-Led Businesses across ASEAN

Laos will take charge of ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Network (AWEN) for 2026 to 2027, with Laos leveraging its chairmanship to increase the business prospects for women-owned ventures within ASEAN. The upcoming AWEN Forum and Awards Ceremony will be held in Vientiane, Laos on October 2-3.

The Lao Business Women’s Association (LWBA) officially unveiled the chairmanship during a press conference that was held at the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) on September 10. The programme aims at creating opportunity for regional interaction and rewarding the best women entrepreneurs for their achievements and contributions to social and economic development.

Key Highlights:

• Laos to chair AWEN for 2026-2027, advancing women’s entrepreneurship in ASEAN
• AWEN to expand women entrepreneurs’ access to markets, capital and investment
• Laos to promote digital transformation and inclusion among women-led MSMEs

Scheduled to take place in Amari Hotel in Vientiane over a period of two days, the forum and award ceremony will put emphasis on building network and opportunities for women-owned businesses.

Laos aims at improving the regional environment for women-owned enterprises, providing more chances for entrepreneurial activities and cooperation.

The AWEN Forum and Awards Ceremony will be attended by various stakeholders involved in women’s entrepreneurship. This will highlight the accomplishments of women in business and discuss issues of sustainable business development and regional cooperation.

Speaking as the Chairperson of ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Network (AWEN 2026-2027) and President of the Lao Business Women’s Association, Chanthachone Vongsay, commented that Laos’ leadership would build a solid foundation for Lao women entrepreneurs to highlight their potential and foster business relations amongst women entrepreneurs within ASEAN countries.

During the chairmanship of Laos, Chanthachone proposed three main priorities that must be focused on. First, it is necessary to enhance the capability of national member organizations and regional business connectivity. Second, it is important to provide women entrepreneurs with better market, financial, and investment accessibility. Finally, it is necessary to accelerate digital transformation and inclusion of women-owned micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The October event will provide an avenue for policy discussions, business networking, and sharing of business models. It is likely to facilitate cross-border partnerships and give exposure to women entrepreneurs in relation to regional business opportunities.

The AWEN Awards are also likely to recognize women entrepreneurs for their successes in business as well as their contributions to their local communities. The forum together with the awards ceremony will therefore facilitate regional business connections and help women entrepreneurs reach new markets and investors within ASEAN.

Chanthachone also stressed the formation of AWEN as a platform for regional women entrepreneurship. Its terms of reference were adopted in 2012 in Vientiane, and were officially launched in 2014 in Hanoi, with an initial membership of 10 ASEAN member countries. AWEN has now grown to include all 11 ASEAN member countries.