Irene Natividad, the president of the Global Summit of Women (GSW) believed that globalization brings women both benefits and challenges.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua ahead of the opening of the GSW, which kicked off in Hanoi on Thursday afternoon, Natividad said Internet technology gives women freedom and information.

Globalization has created markets for women to expand their businesses and see possibilities of growing their businesses beyond their respective countries, she said.

Internet gives women a tool to cross border to do trade without going to another country. However, trafficking of women is one of the "horrible" effects of globalization.

When asked what women could learn through participating in the GSW event, Natividad said she hoped that women can be inspired through participating in the GSW.

For example, she said, a German woman coming to the summit wrote in the evaluation form after a summit that "I left with wings on my back."

"I know that means you feel you can do anything," she added.

Woman participants can also learn practical things, she said. "We have sessions for women entrepreneur, leadership development, micro-finance development. It is like recipes for success."

A woman from India started selling things from suitcase in the bathroom in an earlier summit. Now she has a partnership in Japan, and another in Iceland, said Natividad.

As to why this year's summit focuses on the theme of women and Asia, she said: "We will be showcasing Vietnamese women throughout the summit so people could get to see the expertise that lies in this country. Asia is driving the 21st century global economy."