Women chamber executives from some of the world’s nascent economies outlined a number of new initiatives tailored towards increasing the visibility and employability of women worldwide, at the 5th World Chambers Congress today.
In a workshop entitled, Empowering Women in Business, Maggie Kigozi, Executive Director of the Uganda Investment Authority, spoke about the 8th WAMM Commonwealth Women’s Business Conferencewhich recognized the role of women in business.
Sophia Economacos detailed the launch of the Eurochambres Women’s Network, aimed at raising the visibility of women in the economy and within the chamber network while Tran Thi Thuy, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs’ Council talked about the creation of the successful Golden Rose Cup.
Guljan Zmaray, Chairwoman of the Afghan Women’s Business Federation stressed that Afghanistan was suffering from the effects of war but that the Afghan Women’s Business Federation already had 50 active members.
In the last decade, awareness has grown that women are a major force to be reckoned with in the world economy. In the developing world, most micro-enterprises are run by women. Despite the increasing numbers of women in the workforce in the developed world, they represent only 5% of Chief Executive Officers in the USA and Europe. Chambers recognize that to cultivate women as members, they must offer the customized services, training and support that women need to achieve their full potential and recognition in the workforce.
Indeed, chambers can function as ‘think tanks’ on the development of novel initiatives for women in business.
The 5th World Chambers Congress had a record attendance of 1 600 chamber of commerce executives and business leaders from 118 countries, including from Iraq, Afghanistan, Laos, Guinea Bissau, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Azerbaijan and Luxembourg.
The congress was founded in 1999 in Marseilles, and since then has developed a reputation as the premier venue for the global network of 12 000 chambers to share experiences and best practice and build international contacts.
