Wemall is one of the fast-growing e-commerce platforms in Cambodia. It was founded in September 2019 by two Cambodian women, passionate about the promotion of women’s economic empowerment, gender equality, and digital innovation. The Support of Regional Economic Cooperation (SRECA) project worked together with WeMall and its network in 2021 to facilitate access to the Chinese and European markets as well as to improve the structures of women-led businesses using e-commerce and other digital tools. Chinese and German experts conducted a triangular online training on e-commerce and business promotion for WeMall (registered name: O.S Global) and its network.
Among its four focus countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Mongolia and Vietnam), SRECA is actively fostering exchange among women entrepreneurs on the area of regional economic cooperation. As a follow-up to the training with WeMall in 2021, a regional exchange with Vietnamese women entrepreneurs was organized in 2022. The Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE), main implementation partner in Vietnam, is also the host of the SheTrades Hub from the International Trade Center (ITC) in Hanoi.
From 22-25 August 2022, a delegation of Cambodian Women entrepreneurs visited Hanoi in Vietnam. Nine members of the WeMall network from various business areas such as e-commerce, handicraft, and agri-food, met with VIETRADE and the Vietnam Woman Entrepreneurs Council (VWEC). They were also introduced to the SheTrades component of ITC in Vietnam. Additionally, the Chairwoman of VWEC, which is a branch of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), shared information on the female business network. The representative of Lazada group, an e-commerce company of Alibaba and the largest online shopping site in Vietnam, shared with the delegation about e-commerce related topics. Afterwards, the delegation visited a women-owned household business that specialised in handicrafts. On the second day, Cambodian delegates visited Happytex Vietnam JSC factory, a ready-made textile manufacturing company in Ha Nam Province as well as Dang Agriculture JSC, a local food processing Company.
The exchange visit was well received by WeMall delegates. “Thanks to GIZ-SRECA for organizing the exchange visit. I will apply knowledge and experience from that I have learnt and also share to my trainees as well as woman business groups in my community” Ms. Tom Kimeng, one of the participants.
As a follow up activity, SRECA and WeMall will coordinate to organize a sharing event with WeMall’s vendors and network in Cambodia to share knowledge and experience from the visit in Vietnam.