APEC 11^th WOMEN LEADERS’ NETWORK MEETING

19-22 SEPTEMBER 2006-

International Conference Center

Hanoi, Vietnam

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THIRD PLENARY SESSION : “Towards a Dynamic Community – Enhancingthe Competitiveness of Women Business for Sustainable Development and Prosperity”

DATE: 20 September 2006

TIME: 14:00-16:30

CHAIRPERSON: Ms. Ton Nu Thi Ninh

Deputy Head of External Relations of VietnamNational Assembly

RAPPORTEUR: Dr. Ramona Ines Bustamante -Rañeses

Philippines

TIME STARTED: 14:10 pm

The third plenary session chaired by Ms Ton Nu Thi Ninh started with the presentation of the Outcome Reports by the three (3) rapporteurs o­n the three (3) sub-themes, followed by the discussion of common issues and ended with the Chairperson’s Summary.

The strengths, achievements and challenges of WLN. were identified. It is acclaimed as an achievement that WLN has been influential in shaping APECGender Integration Policy particularly through recommendations to GFPN and SMEWG and finally to APEC Leaders and Ministers; WLN has consistently organized annual meetings o­n the side of APEC; inspite of lack of funds. it has implementedsignificant projects in APEC such as APEC e-Biz Training for Women Entrepreneurs,the 11^th Global Conference of Women Entrepreneur andAPEC Forum o­n Digital Economy for Women; andWLN played a substantial role in successfully organizing two APEC Ministerial Meetings o­n Women.

The followingpriority issueswere highlighted by the speakers namely:

The sustainability of WLN in the next decade and the importance of being relevant in the context of engendering trade and investment in APEC economies; (b.) need to continue providing gender expertise to APEC fora and Ministerial Meetings; support and promote gender integration projects in APEC; foster the development of networking through common goals and exchange of good practices; enhance capacity development throughout the APEC economies; visibilization of thecontribution of women led businesses to economic development and trade; and renewed commitment from members of WLN to move forward in the next decade.

The following recommendations were advanced:

Continue to provide APEC fora with support to integrate gender in all its policies, programs and projects; Consider capacity development as a key strategy for women’s empowerment within APEC; Conduct research, strategic studies and collect sex disaggregated data to provide evidence-based research to support policy recommendations and project proposals; Establish a secretariat and website for WLN. The Philippines offered to host the secretariat; Canada volunteered to monitor the impact of WLN recommendations.

Suggested twoproject proposals like:

-Joint HRD Programme o­n E-Women Leadership Development Training Network (E-WLTN)- Thailand

-APEC Strategic Framework for Women in Business, from Micro Enterprises to SMEs and Large Women Enterprises.

Support GFPN in organizing the 3^rd Ministerial Meeting; Identify male champions to work with WLN; and Identify focal points within WLN to lead discussion o­n the establishment of the secretariat, new project proposals and to assist in developing the content for the 3^rd Ministerial Meeting.

Discussion of Common Issues

Some participants raised the following salient points:

Vietnam: Hanoi women face difficulty in management They need contacts to market their products Thereshould be regular contacts with members through the email. They need legal counseling. . They need more training in ICT .

USA: I have been attending WLN meetings for so many years and it is o­nly in this meeting that am most impressed because for the first time we are able to come up with many concrete recommendations:

1. Philippines proposing to organize a WLNsecretariat
2. Canada to monitor the recommendations
3. Korea- I am delighted this is a successful meeting.
4.  
5. Chinese Taipei: We appreciatethe e-biz training but we must also teach them how to use the skills and how to maintainthe computers. . Let us tap the potentials of local universities.

Korea: Discussed the importance of the e-biz training

USA: Reiterated the Strategic Framework

Canada: We need good data. Good research

New Zealand: We are committed to pursue the WLN programs and projects.

Japan: What is good data research?It differs from economy to economy.

USA: We will change the world by how we move for the next ten years.

Chairperson’s Summary

Based o­n the theme, “Towards a Dynamic Community: Enhancing the Competitiveness of Women’s Business for Sustainable Development and Prosperity,”the chairperson singledout four key concepts: dynamic, committed, sustainable and prosperity. To meet the goals and objectives, she clearly underscored four important concerns, namely:

1.Research

We need to have sex disaggregated data since we want to integrate gender.

We must decide o­n whether we must push with the research – Korea is the initiator of the practical recommendation.

2. Capability Building

We need the following for capacity building:

1. ICT
2. access to different types of finance
3. Skills

This requires networking, mutual support and

1. Lobby with the nine other economies that are not included in the list of economies to be involved in the e-biz training, namely: Singapore, Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, Peru, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia , Mexico, Brunei and Russia. Before we network with ministers we must network with ourselves. We need a holistic approach to capability building and networking part of that holistic approach.

3. Submit proposals to funding agencies

2. Identify how we impact. Let us be ready with data and statistics are very important tolls to catch attention of leaders

5. Monitor and promote our existing initiatives

Identify the Australian implemented projects

Monitor the Korean projects

Monitor the uncompleted projects.

USA committedto keep the momentum going byholdingonline fora for the above cited concerns.

Before the session was put to a close, the body approved to undertake the following actions:

1. To establish a WLN Secretariat in the Philippines.
2. To conduct research related to sex disaggregated data
3. To develop a holistic Strategy Framework for women’s enterprise Development to build capacityand support the growth of women–owned and/or women –led enterprises.
4. To develop a research agenda related to women’s entrepreneurship and related funding proposals for presentation to APEC and other funding bodies.

The session ended at 16:30 in the afternoon.

Prepared and submittedby:

RAMONA BUSTAMANTE-RANESES, PhD,