http://www.apec.org/Press/News-Releases/2015/0503_PPWE.aspx APEC’s initiatives to
advance the economic integration of women across the Asia-Pacific have helped
empower women and strengthened their contribution to the economy.
Setting the tone, the APEC
Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy began a two-day meeting in Port
Moresby, Papua New Guinea on Sunday. Emmeline Verzosa, the Executive
Director of the Philippine Commission on Women, said the group will draft new plans
and projects that empower more women to be part of supply chains and provide
women with access to technology, health services, finance and marketing.
Delegates will finalize a
strategic plan which will chart efforts of the 21 APEC member economies to promote
women's economic empowerment. It will also discuss the implementation of the
APEC Women and the Economy Dashboard which contains indicators to measure
women's advancement.“For growth to have a transformative effect on an economy
and people, it needs to be inclusive, meaning all citizens – women and men,
young and old, indigenous, migrant workers, persons with disabilities, and of
diverse groups - contribute to as well the benefit from growth,” said Verzosa
who is chairing the meeting.
“Inclusive growth
translates to creating jobs, integrating the population into the economic and
social mainstream, and reducing poverty,” she explained. “No one should be left
behind.”
A senior representative
participating in the meeting offered an example for how integrating gender
policies and programs contribute toward inclusive growth.
“Providing access to
financial services and microfinance in Papua New Guinea has significantly grown
and has extended rapidly toward remote areas,” said Richard Yakam, Papua New
Guinea’s Assistant Secretary for the Department of Commerce and Industry.“The
deployment of the ‘Mi-Cash’ program, bank accounts that can be accessed by
mobile phones in Papua New Guinea, allow people to save money and pay bills,”
Yakam continued. “These accounts have become popular among women.”
With attention on
inclusive growth, discussions on gender criteria for APEC projects and how
these can be used to measure progress will continue through Monday. “APEC
shall expand the region’s growth story to include a vision of economic
prosperity and interconnectedness felt at all levels, beginning at the
grassroots,” concluded Verzosa.
For more:
Further details on
cooperation between APEC member economies to strengthen women’s economic
empowerment can be found at this link.
For additional information,
or to arrange possible media interviews, please contact:
Michael Chapnick +65 9647
4847 (in Port Moresby) at mc@apec.org
Jennifer Juo +65
9721 8660 at jj@apec.org
More on APEC meetings,
events, projects and publications can be found onwww.apec.org.
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For more information, contact: media@apec.org
APEC media item from APEC