Women entrepreneurs Women entrepreneurs in the knowledge societyin the knowledge society

Shihong HANShihong HAN

Chairman of the board, Beijing Meridian SUN Co. Ltd.Chairman of the board, Beijing Meridian SUN Co. Ltd.

bjhsh@yahoo.cnbjhsh@yahoo.cn

Millennia 2015Millennia 2015

Women actors of development for world challengesWomen actors of development for world challenges

International Conference, March 7-8, 2008International Conference, March 7-8, 2008

AgendaAgenda

Introduction of the status of women in ChinaIntroduction of the status of women in China

The current situation of Chinese women The current situation of Chinese women entrepreneursentrepreneurs

Rising of women entrepreneurs & triple Rising of women entrepreneurs & triple bottom linebottom line

PerspectivesPerspectives

Current status of women in ChinaCurrent status of women in China

Status of Women Status of Women

Participate in national and social and political Participate in national and social and political affairs affairs

Women's Education Women's Education

Women's Employment Women's Employment

Women's health and marriage and family Women's health and marriage and family

Introduction of the status of women in ChinaIntroduction of the status of women in China

Impact of social reforms on the Impact of social reforms on the employment of womenemployment of women

Women’s labor becomes important part of enterprises with new types of Women’s labor becomes important part of enterprises with new types of ownership emerging after reform and opening up, including private ownership emerging after reform and opening up, including private sectors, joint ventures, foreign enterprises, etc;sectors, joint ventures, foreign enterprises, etc;

Compared with the situation before reform, the female labor force began Compared with the situation before reform, the female labor force began to shift positions suited for women; to shift positions suited for women;

The reforms break the situation of barriers between town and country and The reforms break the situation of barriers between town and country and allow the free movement of the rural population; allow the free movement of the rural population;

Women's labor force becomes the principal laid-off or unemployedWomen's labor force becomes the principal laid-off or unemployed

Introduction of the status of women in ChinaIntroduction of the status of women in China

The reasons for the decline of China's current employment The reasons for the decline of China's current employment rate of women:rate of women: 1. the influence of limitation of real level of productivity development 1. the influence of limitation of real level of productivity development

2. the impact of concept changes of enterprises 2. the impact of concept changes of enterprises 3. the impact of adjustment of economic structure3. the impact of adjustment of economic structure

4. the impact of gender4. the impact of gender

Current issuesCurrent issuesEducation to girls in poverty-stricken & low-income Education to girls in poverty-stricken & low-income regions still needs our concernsregions still needs our concerns

The trend of flow-out of rural population imposed The trend of flow-out of rural population imposed extra burdens to villages & flow-out womenextra burdens to villages & flow-out women

In terms of AIDS prevention, women are more In terms of AIDS prevention, women are more fragile to AIDS.fragile to AIDS.

Imbalanced gender ratio of births, which not only Imbalanced gender ratio of births, which not only shows the social attitude to the issue of gender, but shows the social attitude to the issue of gender, but also have serious influence on the future of the also have serious influence on the future of the nation. nation.

Introduction of the status of women in ChinaIntroduction of the status of women in China

The current situation of women The current situation of women entrepreneursentrepreneurs in China in China

In the globalized knowledge economy, the physical differencIn the globalized knowledge economy, the physical difference between men and women is no more disadvantage for woe between men and women is no more disadvantage for women to start up business, and the development of new econmen to start up business, and the development of new economy has even provided many new opportunities to women, omy has even provided many new opportunities to women, which has formed a new trend of women’s starting undertakiwhich has formed a new trend of women’s starting undertakings in different parts of the world.ngs in different parts of the world.

With China reform and opening-up, especially after the With China reform and opening-up, especially after the socialist market economy established in 1995, women socialist market economy established in 1995, women entrepreneurs have reached the peak period of development entrepreneurs have reached the peak period of development and the booming situation lasts until nowadays. At present and the booming situation lasts until nowadays. At present women entrepreneurs account for 20% of the total women entrepreneurs account for 20% of the total entrepreneurs of China.entrepreneurs of China.

The current situation of Chinese women entrepreneursThe current situation of Chinese women entrepreneurs

Comparison of enterprise registration timeComparison of enterprise registration time

The current situation of Chinese women entrepreneursThe current situation of Chinese women entrepreneurs

After 1996 women entrepreneurs develop so swiftly that over 60% of After 1996 women entrepreneurs develop so swiftly that over 60% of them sprang up after 1996. Nowadays, their development is just in its them sprang up after 1996. Nowadays, their development is just in its

peak period with a good development tendency.peak period with a good development tendency.

Source: Report of China Association of Woman EntrepreneursSource: Report of China Association of Woman Entrepreneurs

Profit Profit ofof women entrepreneurswomen entrepreneurs

Over 96% of the enterprises of women entrepreneurs are Over 96% of the enterprises of women entrepreneurs are profitable. profitable.

The current situation of Chinese women entrepreneursThe current situation of Chinese women entrepreneurs

Source: Report of China Association of Woman EntrepreneursSource: Report of China Association of Woman Entrepreneurs

Distribution for women entrepreneurs in Distribution for women entrepreneurs in industries: Covering every industryindustries: Covering every industry

It is investigated that women entrepreneurs’ enterprises are mainly distributed in manufacturing (13.8%), industries of electric power, gas and water supply (19.4%), wholesale and retail trade as well as catering (19.1%) and social services (14.6%).

Source: Report of China Association of Woman EntrepreneursSource: Report of China Association of Woman Entrepreneurs

The current situation of Chinese women entrepreneursThe current situation of Chinese women entrepreneurs

DifficultiesDifficultiesHowever, women entrepreneurs are relatively in a However, women entrepreneurs are relatively in a disadvantageous position as a whole and have their own disadvantageous position as a whole and have their own shortcomings.shortcomings.

Failing to changing their knowledge quicklyFailing to changing their knowledge quickly

Lacking experiences for international marketsLacking experiences for international markets

The enterprises of most women entrepreneurs are The enterprises of most women entrepreneurs are comparatively weak and small. comparatively weak and small.

Women entrepreneurs will meet with more difficulties than Women entrepreneurs will meet with more difficulties than men entrepreneurs in the society (such as family, society men entrepreneurs in the society (such as family, society and corporate management).and corporate management).

The current situation of Chinese women entrepreneursThe current situation of Chinese women entrepreneurs

What do women want in the What do women want in the commercial worldcommercial world

According to the latest survey of WNSF:According to the latest survey of WNSF:

Women are more likely to take contributions to the Women are more likely to take contributions to the society as a key factor for the satisfactory degree of society as a key factor for the satisfactory degree of working.working.

Women are more likely to take voluntary jobs advocated Women are more likely to take voluntary jobs advocated by their communities & companies.by their communities & companies.

They care more about the labor policy & environmental They care more about the labor policy & environmental performance.performance.

They believe that companies should do better in They believe that companies should do better in respective of social responsibility.respective of social responsibility.

Rising of women entrepreneurs & triple bottom lineRising of women entrepreneurs & triple bottom line

Sustainability & triple bottom lineSustainability & triple bottom lineSustainable development:Sustainable development:

““Development that meets the needs of the present withouDevelopment that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their t compromising the ability of future generations to meet their

own needs."own needs."

--- “Our Common Future”, the Bruntland Report, 1987--- “Our Common Future”, the Bruntland Report, 1987

Rising of women entrepreneurs & triple bottom lineRising of women entrepreneurs & triple bottom line

Triple bottom line:Triple bottom line: Economy accountabilityEconomy accountability Social ethicSocial ethic Environment sustainabilityEnvironment sustainability

Triple bottom line & harmonious societyTriple bottom line & harmonious society

Chinese government proposed to join hands to build a hChinese government proposed to join hands to build a harmonious world, which fundamentals are “lasting peace” armonious world, which fundamentals are “lasting peace” and “common prosperity”. Lasting peace is the premise, and “common prosperity”. Lasting peace is the premise, and common prosperity is the ultimate goal of a harmoniand common prosperity is the ultimate goal of a harmonious society. ous society.

Triple bottom line has become an important vehicle to Triple bottom line has become an important vehicle to achieve this ultimate goal.achieve this ultimate goal.

Rising of women entrepreneurs & triple bottom lineRising of women entrepreneurs & triple bottom line

Beijing Meridian SUN CompanyBeijing Meridian SUN Company (1) (1)

Our Company has been engaging in:Our Company has been engaging in:

1) The future technology 1) The future technology In order to achieve sustainable development, enterprises should meet the In order to achieve sustainable development, enterprises should meet the

requirements on environmental protection, energy saving, emission requirements on environmental protection, energy saving, emission reduction, resource conservation / comprehensive utilization, as well as reduction, resource conservation / comprehensive utilization, as well as people’s life & health. people’s life & health.

To such a task we invested in a research center of the future technology To such a task we invested in a research center of the future technology dedicated to development of the future technologies that focus on energy dedicated to development of the future technologies that focus on energy saving & environmental protection in agriculture, etc. and carry on saving & environmental protection in agriculture, etc. and carry on technology transfer & industrializationtechnology transfer & industrialization

Rising of women entrepreneurs & triple bottom lineRising of women entrepreneurs & triple bottom line

Beijing Meridian SUN CompanyBeijing Meridian SUN Company (2) (2)

2) The future industry 2) The future industry We are supporting the activities of Future 500 (China).We are supporting the activities of Future 500 (China).

Rising of women entrepreneurs & triple bottom lineRising of women entrepreneurs & triple bottom line

TheThe Future 500: Future 500: An international not-for-profit alliance of leaAn international not-for-profit alliance of lea

dership companies, which is based in North dership companies, which is based in North America (San Francisco) with affiliate officeAmerica (San Francisco) with affiliate offices in Tokyo-Japan, Beijing-China.s in Tokyo-Japan, Beijing-China.

Devoted to stakeholder engagement to maxiDevoted to stakeholder engagement to maximizing the triple bottom line and shaping futmizing the triple bottom line and shaping future sustainable enterprises that serve not oure sustainable enterprises that serve not only shareholders, but also stakeholders. nly shareholders, but also stakeholders.

Beijing Meridian SUN CompanyBeijing Meridian SUN Company (3) (3)3) The Social undertakings 3) The Social undertakings

Today we are living in an aging society, proportion of the elderly pToday we are living in an aging society, proportion of the elderly population in the community as a whole occupy a large scale. Buopulation in the community as a whole occupy a large scale. But in the maintenance of the elderly, China is still in the developmt in the maintenance of the elderly, China is still in the development stage.ent stage.

Our company are establishing an non-profit Our company are establishing an non-profit caring house for elder caring house for elder in a in a mountain located in mountain located in suburb of suburb of Beijing.Beijing.

Rising of women entrepreneurs & triple bottom lineRising of women entrepreneurs & triple bottom line

Perspectives Perspectives

It is predicted that in 2015 women entrepreneurs of China It is predicted that in 2015 women entrepreneurs of China will occupy 25% of the total of entrepreneurs and in 2020 will occupy 25% of the total of entrepreneurs and in 2020 the rate is expected to reach 30%.the rate is expected to reach 30%.

These rising These rising entrepreneurs will tightly keep up with the entrepreneurs will tightly keep up with the pace of the development of timespace of the development of times, have great potential in cr, have great potential in creating fortunes & employment, enhancing sustainability & eating fortunes & employment, enhancing sustainability & social reform, reducing poverty and supporting the develosocial reform, reducing poverty and supporting the development of human society. pment of human society.

Enhancing the consciousness of sexual equality and improEnhancing the consciousness of sexual equality and improving the social surroundings for the women's developmentving the social surroundings for the women's development

Thank you Thank you

for your attention!for your attention!