India Press Releases - 2004

25 May 2004

U.S. to Actively Participate in Summit of Women 2004

NEW DELHI -- The United States will be sending a high-level delegation to the Global Summit of Women in Seoul, Korea, May 27-29, 2004. The summit is organized annually by a non-profit organization headed by an international planning committee of American women leaders. Global respect for women is a foreign policy imperative, and the United States supports the Global Summit of Women for its emphasis on women's economic advancement.

The U.S. delegation to the 2004 summit will include Shinae Chun, Director, Women's Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor; Paula Desutter, Assistant Secretary, Verification & Compliance, U.S. Department of State; Lindi Harvey, Deputy Director, Office of the Senior Coordinator for International Women's Issues, U.S. Department of State; Henrietta Holsman-Fore, Director, U.S. Mint (U.S. Treasury Department); and Ambassador Josette Sheeran Shiner, Deputy United States Trade Representative.

Nicknamed the "Davos for Women," the 2004 summit continues to focus on accelerating women's economic development, with an emphasis on the use of technology to grow businesses, access other markets and expand networks. The Republic of Korea, a high-tech leader in the world's economy and the 11th largest economy, with a growing cadre of women entrepreneurs, will host the 2004 summit.

Past summits have spurred the formation of regional and international networks, and have inspired numerous successful business initiatives. Over 670 women leaders from 80 countries attended the 2003 summit in Marrakech, Morocco, and over 700 delegates from over 70 countries will attend the summit in Korea. The Department of State is trying to arrange the attendance of modest Iraqi and Afghan women's delegations as well. The summit is unique in its ability to gather an entrepreneur, a fortune 500 executive and a high-ranking government official in the same room to discuss how to best influence the direction of women in business.

The 2004 summit will feature the first-ever women's Expo (WEXPO). WEXPO participants will have an opportunity to showcase their products or services to prospective clients and partners. The summit will host workshops on strategic networking, growing micro-enterprises into mainstream business through trade, e-commerce basics and a host of other topics. Increasing business opportunities, building markets and job creation for women are tangible stated goals for WEXPO and the summit."