Gender equality: ‘Australia pledges help to enhance women’s participation in business

Speakers stress on supporting business opportunities in the country.


Express December 14, 2011

ISLAMABAD:


Australia and the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) are committed to enhancing the Pakistani women entrepreneurs’ participation in business activities.


This was said by the Australian High Commissioner Tim George at a reception on Monday to celebrate the success of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), held in Perth, Australia in October.

“One of the most important outcomes of CHOGM was a consensus among leaders to take steps towards gender equality across all Commonwealth countries,” said George.

He welcomed CBC South Asia Adviser Arif Zaman and Deborah Leary, who was representing the International Federation of Business and Professional Women’s President Freda Miriklis, as he could not make it to the reception.

Both Miriklis and Zaman were instrumental in reforming the Commonwealth Women’s Business Network, said the high commissioner.

“According to a report submitted to CHOGM leaders by the CBC, women own up to 39 per cent of private businesses in the formal economy in the world, but they have not penetrated the global supply chain. They are underrepresented on boards and lack access to finance,” he said.

As the chair of the meeting, Australia is eager to work with the network to strengthen women’s participation in senior roles, he added.

Speaking on behalf of the CBC, Zaman said that the meeting in Perth was a huge success and the representation of Pakistan’s business community was widely acknowledged and recognised at the meeting.

“Building on the momentum created by the Commonwealth Business Forum, it is important to support business opportunities in the country,” he added.

Leary said there was a tremendous potential in Pakistani women, adding that her organisation was endeavouring to provide businesswomen with access to a huge market.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14th, 2011.

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