Events

Galina Karelova: Russia presents our experience and projects expanding women’s involvement in the economy to UNIDO

UNIDO’s support of Russian initiatives will make it possible to shift to new formats of international cooperation in the interests of women, according to the Federation Council Deputy Speaker


Federation Council Deputy Speaker Galina Karelova attended the presentation of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) on “UNIDO as a global platform for the promotion of women's economic empowerment – Initiatives in Europe and Central Asia” held in Vienna, Austria, for representatives of almost 170 permanent missions of the organisation’s member countries.

“Russia is ready to share its experience and join efforts to create conditions that will allow women to take a more active role in the economy,” the Federation Council Deputy Speaker said.

“At the top level, Russia’s leadership clearly understands that it is necessary to create conditions for women’s professional and personal development as well as an increase in their economic activities. Overcoming poverty, creating new jobs and decreasing the unemployment level are goals that need new solutions,” the Deputy Speaker said when presenting Russia’s initiatives.

Galina Karelova noted that Russia had been cooperating fruitfully with UNIDO on implementing a themed project to support women’s leadership and entrepreneurship. In this sense, the appointment of the first Russian UNIDO Goodwill Ambassador is regarded as recognition of Russia’s important role and reputation in addressing issues of sustainable industrial development and providing the entire range of women’s rights.

The participants saw Russia’s experience in expanding women’s economic opportunities and its new projects and initiatives based on the systemic approach to the development of the support infrastructure for women’s businesses that involves using Russian and global practices.

Establishing an international information website, joint activities to develop women’s competences, corporative programmes of women’s leadership and corporate social responsibility as well as providing access to markets and finances, support of small and medium-sized women’s businesses and developing an investment platform for women’s projects were proposed. The initiatives also include establishing an international UNIDO award for businesswomen’s projects.

“We hope that UNIDO’s support of our initiatives and projects will help us move from national solutions to new formats of international cooperation in the interests of women,” Galina Karelova stressed.

The meeting was also attended by UNIDO Director General Li Yong, Chief of the UNIDO Regional Division for Europe and Central Asia Jacek Cukrowski, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the International Organisations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov, Russian Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Gulnaz Kadyrova, UNIDO Goodwill Ambassador Veronika Peshkova, Head of the OPORA RUSSIA Women’s Entrepreneurship Development Committee Nadiya Cherkasova and representatives of the Eurasian Women’s Forum Council.