News

The Innosocium Foundation, the social platform of the Roscongress Foundation, will take part in the Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society (WEFCOS) in Paris on 20–22 November.

The main theme of the WEFCOS this year is ‘Taking the lead for inclusion: Accelerating impact’. The Forum’s organizers call on its participants to find solutions to the problems of inequality, including access to education, work, and cultural values. A sustainable future depends on the extent to which humankind can capitalize on its results as well as the development of human capital and its accessibility for everyone regardless of gender, class, income level, or whether or not there are restrictions on opportunities.

The Russian delegation at the Forum will include Deputy Chairwoman of the Russian Federation Council Galina Karelova, Russian Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Gulnaz Kadyrova, Deputy Director of the Russian President’s Expert Office, Representative of the Russian President, and Sherpa in the G20 Svetlana Lukash, Roscongress Foundation Deputy CEO and Innosocium Foundation Director Yelena Marinina as well as Director of the Promsvyazbank External Relations Directorate Vera Podguzova.

“Last year, at the initiative of the Roscongress Foundation’s social platform, a Russian delegation for the first time took part in the Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society at which an agreement of intent was signed with the WEFCOS to affirm the commitment to the common goals of uniting female leaders for the sake of the world’s sustainable development. This year we will sign a strategic cooperation agreement as part of which the WEFCOS will actively take part in the activities of the Innosocium Foundation, the social platform of the Roscongress Foundation, with the goal of achieving sustainable development goals and promoting the women’s agenda at the global level. Over the course of this year, we have carried out a lot of work in a number of areas. For example, in September 2018, an open meeting of the Women’s Twenty (W20) was held for the first time in Russia as part of the second Eurasian Women’s Forum, which was hosted by the Roscongress Foundation. In March of this year, we took part in the W20 Summit in Tokyo. By exchanging experience and knowledge, we will be able to create new opportunities and prospects at the confluence of the economy, culture, and social projects for the common good. Consolidating our efforts at all levels will help achieve better results”, Marinina said.

“It’s impossible to imagine a strong, stable state without women’s participation in all spheres of public life. Our goals are in line with the global agenda – enhancing women’s economic activity in all sectors of the economy and their involvement in management and decision-making processes, and creating conditions for self-fulfilment and maintaining a balance between work and family life. This is the foundation on which we can build a stable and equitable society and ensure sustainable economic growth”, Lukash said.

The WEFCOS 2019 programme will include an offsite reception of the Eurasian Women’s Forum, which will be held on 20 November at the Trade Mission of the Russian Federation in France. The reception will focus on women’s cooperation and the development of creative industries. Russia and France have a long history of cooperation and cultural ties that date back centuries. Culture, in particular, could serve as a primary channel of dialogue between the two countries, and women could become the driving force of cooperation in this regard.

The Russian delegation is also scheduled to hold a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the French Republic and the Principality of Monaco Alexey Meshkov, during which the officials will discuss the role and opportunities of the women’s community in the development of cultural and business cooperation between Russia and France.

“Russia and France are united by a centuries-old history of relations. Women make a significant contribution to the strengthening of cultural ties between our countries and hold leading positions in creative industries. The Forum provides an opportunity to exchange the experience we have gained and open new frontiers for international cooperation with respect to the women’s agenda. Together we can achieve great results”, Karelova said.

“We have numerous common issues: enhancing women’s role in the economy is a key to sustainable economic growth and industrial development, and women’s involvement in politics makes the state more socially oriented. At the same time, the Forum will discuss sustainable development issues that are equally significant for everyone without any distinction between gender and social status. In this context, don’t forget about the development of creative industries and support for projects in terms of cultural and historical heritage, which is essentially one of the foundations of a stable state. It is crucial for us to utilize all possible resources and maximize the return on cooperation”, Kadyrova said.

The Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society was founded in 2005 in order to bring together international opinion leaders and representatives of business, culture, the media, and non-governmental organizations on a single platform to hold discussions about how women can enhance their contribution to the development of the global economy and civil society. In its documents, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has noted the great importance of the WEFCOS in discussing global socioeconomic issues. According to The Financial Times, the WEFCOS is one of the five most influential forums in the world.

20.11.2019