MUMBAI, INDIA - The sixth edition of the Global Economic Summit on ‘Women’s Empowerment: Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Capacity Building’ was inaugurated by Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary General, United Nations Commission of Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Geneva, Switzerland at WTC Mumbai on March 27, 2017. The dignitaries and experts included, Ms. Dorothy Ng’ambi Tembo, Deputy Executive Director, International Trade Centre, Geneva; Ms. Michaela Marksová, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Czech Republic; Ms. Nora K. Terrado, Undersecretary, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippines; Ms. Ruby Dhalla, Canadian Politician; and Mr. Yonov Frederick Agah, Deputy Director-General, World Trade Organization, Geneva. The Global Economic Summit 2017 (GES 2017) is the flagship event of World Trade Centre (WTC) Mumbai and All India Association of Industries (AIAI).

In his keynote address, Dr. Kituyi said, “Investing in women is not a favour but an imperative.” All efforts towards women’s empowerment should have measurable targets. Technology emerges as one of the bright spots that will help empowering women. ICT can open up new avenues to a greater absorption of women into the labour force.

Ms. Tembo spoke of  SheTrades, a mobile and web application, which aims to connect one million women entrepreneurs to markets by 2020. The event also witnessed the launch of the SheTrades initiative in India, where WTC Mumbai and AIAI are verifiers for Indian women entrepreneurs to be registered on the application.

Mr. Agah said, “The tech savvy women are the new women of the 21st century”. Trade, is also a means through which, women can expand their independence further around the world.

Ms. Michaela Markosova emphasized that wage disparity for women needs to be tackled. Equality in all walks of life is necessary to achieve the right balance in the fight for women’s empowerment.

Dr. Ruby Dhalla stated that to progress women’s empowerment, one needs to be confident and commited to upliftment of the self and other women.

Ms. Terrado said, that the rise of the new economy is the emergence of the digital world. Technology can empower women to unleash their potential and ideas in creating innovative solutions for themselves and the world around them.

Delivering the welcome address, Mr. Morarka said that educated women in India are involved in the business world not as daughters, wives or partners of men, but as entrepreneurs on their own right, he noted.

Delivering the closing note, Capt. Somesh Batra, Vice Chairman, WTC Mumbai, noted that empowering women leads to empowering the society and the nation. He thanked dignitaries and experts for gathering to suggest policies and addressing women’s issues in various strata’s of society across the world.

Earlier, Dr. Kituyi and Mr. Morarka, also inaugurated the exhibition which was concurrent to GES 2017 Conference, and showcased participation of women representing a wide range of businesses. The Inaugural session honoured women achievers across various walks of life.

In Photo: Mr. Kamal M. Morarka felicitating Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi with a memento.

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