Cambodia, Oz host women entrepreneur leaders’ event

The Australian Embassy and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs co-hosted the “ASEAN-Australia Women Leaders’ side Event: Unlocking women’s entrepreneurship towards regional economic growth”, which featured outstanding business women from the ASEAN region and Australia and gave them the chance to share experiences and learn from each other.

According to a December 14 joint press release, the December 11 and 12 meetings featured 26 women entrepreneurs from Australia and every ASEAN member state.

The side event followed up on the October 12 Second ASEAN Women Leaders’ Summit, which Cambodia successfully hosted.

Australia was proud to be a key ASEAN dialogue partner and support Cambodia’s hosting of the summit, which focused on the critical issue of expanding women’s entrepreneurship in ASEAN. ASEAN Leaders subsequently adopted the “Declaration on Building a more Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient Future: Unlocking Women’s Entrepreneurship in ASEAN” at the 41st ASEAN Summit on November 11.

Ministry secretary of state Chan Sorey recognised the value of learning from women entrepreneurs themselves in hopes of helping to unlock women’s entrepreneurship.

“The outcomes of the side event will contribute to more concrete action towards the implementation of the ASEAN declaration,” she said.

The event culminated in a ceremonial plenary session with over 100 participants from government, business, and embassies in Cambodia.

Australian Ambassador for Women and Girls, Christine Clarke Christine Clarke attended the meetings, and also had the opportunity to visit the National Centre for Peacekeeping Forces to speak to women peacekeepers, as well as a Cambodian female-owned business supported by an Australian development programme.

During her visit to Cambodia, she was able to learn about Australia’s long-term investments in gender-related programmes in Cambodia, including those which counter gender-based violence and ensure that women and marginalised people can participate in and benefit equally from the economy.