Kazakh Embassy in US held roundtable on women’s economic empowerment and investment in women entrepreneurship
The list of participants from Kazakhstan included Dr. Kairat Kelimbetov, Chairman of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Governor of the Astana International Financial Centre, Ms. Aigul Kuspan, Chairwoman of the Committee on International Affairs, Defense and Security of the Majilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ms. Lazzat Ramazanova, Chairwoman of the Commission on Women’s Affairs, Family and Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Chairwoman of the Council of business women of NCE RK «Atameken», Mr. Erzhan Kazykhanov, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to the U.S.
The United States government and agencies were represented by Mr. Dean Thompson, Acting Assistant Secretary of State, Ms. Anjali Kaur, Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Asia for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Ms. Katrina Fotovat, Senior Official, Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues of U.S. Department of State, Mr. Alec Paxton, Acting Managing Director, Gender Lens Investing (2X) of DFC, Ms. Theodora Dell, Director of the Office of South and Central Asian Affairs in the Bureau for Asia of USAID (moderator).
Distinguished guests list also included Ms. Caren Grown, Global Director of the World Bank’s Gender Group, and Ms. Penelope Naas, President of International Public Affairs and Sustainability of UPS.
Women’s economic empowerment has a profound potential for lifting the prosperity of the modern society. According to McKinsey consulting firm report if women had equal opportunities to men in running businesses, the global GDP would go up by $28 trillion by 2025. It means that the world economy would’ve been increased by almost 30%.
The international community pays great attention to women economic empowerment. The Gender equality and women empowerment was adopted as one of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
The President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has repeatedly prioritized gender related matters on his current agenda.
Now everywhere in the world the hit of the pandemic on women was much harder than on man. To overcome these conditions the countries should build constructive dialogue to search for the solutions.
The Round Table was devoted to building bilateral cooperation between Kazakhstan and the United States as well as International Financial Organizations in women economic empowerment. The dialogue was featuring the discussion on international mechanisms for expanding business opportunities for women entrepreneurs and Kazakhstan’s efforts to strengthen women’s economic rights within the country and in the region.
Being the powerhouse of the region Kazakhstan is well prepared for the long-term comprehensive partnership with the United States and other international stakeholders in promoting women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship in Central Asia and a broader region.