SINGAPORE TO HOST APEC WOMEN LEADERS MEETING

By Zakaria Abdul Wahab

SINGAPORE, July 16 (Bernama) -- Singapore will host the two-day, 14th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Women Leaders Network (WLN) meeting here on Aug 4.

The WLN meeting is a premiere platform for women leaders in the Apec region
to network and share with one another, their insights and experiences in the
various sectors of their respective economy.

It also serves as an effective platform for Apec women leaders to discuss
issues of concern to them and their participation in the local and global
economy.

WLN's recommendations are presented to the main Apec Ministerial Meetings
for consideration and incorporation into their agenda.

The theme for this year's meeting is 'Women and Sustainable Development in
APEC', which is in line with Apec 2009's theme of sustaining growth and
connecting the region, according to Minister of State for Community Development,
Youth and Sports Yu-Foo Yee Shoon.

Besides WLN, Singapore will also be hosting the APEC Digital Economy Forum
for Women (DEW) on Aug 3.

This year's theme, 'Sustaining the Successful Leadership Role of Women in
ICTs' reflected the importance of developing the ICT capability of women leaders
to increase and enhance their role and participation in this area, the minister
said at a pre-event briefing here today.

She hoped the meeting would make recommendations in areas where women could
benefit and play prominent roles in the region, such as for sustainable
development, women in business, knowledge economy, tripartism and social
enterprise and for work-life harmony.
-- BERNAMA