By Kris M. Crismundo
MANILA, Aug. 24 (PNA) — The Philippines is set to host the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) Women and Economy 2015 Fora as it eyes more participation of women in the economy.
The fora will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on Sept. 15-18, 2015.
The move aims to hasten collaboration between public and private sectors to promote gender integration, gender equality, and women’s economic empowerment to foster sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the region.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado said the APEC fora will focus on five key areas where women’s participation shall improve, including access to capital, access to markets, capacity and skills building, access to technology and innovation, and leadership.
The fora on women’s participation in APEC economy will involve Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy (PPWE), which aims to provide means to integrate gender considerations into APEC activities; Public Private Dialogue on Women and the Economy (PPDWE) which will harness participation from multi-sector key players from the private sector, academe, and civil society for dialogue and exchange of learning and best endeavors to advance the gender integration, gender equality, and women’s economic empowerment agenda in APEC; and High Level Policy Dialogue on Women and the Economy (HLPD) which will be attended by Ministers and Heads of Delegation of the member-economies.
“With the right training, education and policies, APEC economies can further leverage their existing workforces as well as invest in future productivity,” Terrado said.
“Inclusive growth and women’s economic empowerment will be better achieved if sectors of government converge their efforts towards creating an enabling environment for all women especially those from the margins to access training, capital, markets, and technology. Women have their own style of leadership and governance that is more participatory and innovative. They are able to easily bounce back when faced with crisis situations,” Philippine Commission on Women Executive Director Emmeline L. Verzosa, said.
The Philippine Commission on Women will lead the event. (PNA)