Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Hong Lan speaks at the second APEC Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy Meeting in Hue city on September 26 (Photo: VNA) Thua Thien-Hue (VNA) – The theme of the 2017 APEC Womenand the Economy Forum (WEF) is meant to contribute to APEC’s common efforts,helping to continue implementing APEC leaders’ recommendations on women’seconomic, financial, social integration and economic empowerment whilepromoting women’s equal access to quality education and economic resources, said a participating official.
The 2017 WEF is taking place in Hue city, the central province of ThuaThien-Hue, from September 26 to 29 under the theme “enhancing women’s economic inclusionand empowerment in the changing world”.
Talking to media outlets on the event’s sidelines, Deputy Minister ofLabour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Hong Lan said the theme of the 2017 WEFis associated with priorities specified at previous APEC WEFs in recent years.It is also in line with the existing situation and the development trend in theregion.
About 600 million women are in the labour force of APEC, she noted,adding that over 60 percent of them work in the formal sector and another 40percent in the informal sector. They contribute up to 89 billion USD to APECevery year.
APEC leaders always highly value women’s role in economic integrationand development, she noted.
Lan admitted that women’s potentials have yet to be fully tapped, andthat’s why the APEC economies agreed to include women’s economic empowermentand inclusion in the common agenda.
She added that while bright prospects for the global economic growth canbeen seen, the booming information technology revolution has generated multiplebusiness opportunities and profit for the regional economy. That will alsobring about more chances and favourable conditions for the female workforce andwomen-owned enterprises.
She expressed her hope that the 2017 WEF willadopt a ministerial statement on women and the economy. This document, set topropose policy recommendations for the 21 APEC member economies, will besubmitted to the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in central Da Nang city thisNovember.
Deputy Minister Lan also said she looksforward to the member economies’ approval of Vietnam’s initiative on APECgender inclusion guidelines.
The participation of numerous delegates fromgovernments and the private section in main and side events of the forum willhelp tighten the public-private partnership. The WEF is a chance for APECgovernments to learn about the private sector’s aspirations and, together with thissector, discuss ways to improve women’s economic empowerment.
The official added the forum also serves as a precious opportunity forVietnam to step up investment promotion and popularise the country’s culture,people and tourism.
Established in 1989, APECcomprises 21 economies, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, HongKong (China), Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, NewZealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, ChineseTaipei, Thailand, the US, and Vietnam.
They account for 39 percent ofthe world population, 57 percent of the world GDP and 47 percent of the globaltrade, according to statistics in 2014.-VNA
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