Rosmah Among Keynote Speakers At Dubai Leadership Forum

October 21, 2009

Rosmah Among Keynote Speakers At Dubai Leadership Forum

By Muin Abdul Majid

DUBAI, Oct 21 (Bernama)
Malaysia's commitment and experience in promoting the role of women in its nation-building will be highlighted by Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor at the upcoming Women in Leadership Forum here.

Malaysian consul-general in Dubai Syed Mohamad Hasrin Tengku Hussin said the wife of Malaysia's Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was not alien to the efforts in promoting the role of women in society including in leadership.

Rosmah is one of the keynote speakers at the event that its organisers say will gather some 300 women leaders from the political and business arena from all over the world.

"Her presence and the strong showing of the Malaysian delegation at the conference manifests the excellent and close bilateral relations between Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)," Syed Mohamad Hasrin said ahead of the Oct 25-27 forum.

She will be accompanied by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Maznah Mazlan as well as wives of several ministers and state leaders, and other government officials.

Rosmah is involved in numerous establishments and organisations in Malaysia that champion women, children, healthcare, education and other causes.

Among others, she is chancellor of Universiti Industri Selangor, president of Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) and chairman of Permata Negara, an initiative for early childhood care and education.

Rosmah will take the opportunity of her presence in Dubai to meet members of the Malaysian community at a Hari Raya and Deepavali gathering prior to the conference.

Elaborating, Syed Mohamad Hasrin said women were regarded as an important issue in Malaysia that resulted in the creation of a dedicated ministry in 2001 to continue the emphasis on women given by the Malaysian government since independence.

With women constituting 13.9 million or 49.1 per cent of Malaysia's 27 million people, the consul-general said they were an important asset for the country.

"Thus, investment in women makes perfect economic sense," he said.

The forum will be opened by Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of UAE vice-president, prime minister and ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, at the Burj Al Arab hotel on Sunday.

Conference sessions and interactive workshops will take place on Monday and Tuesday at the Atlantis hotel.

The invited speakers will touch on issues such as women in science and technology, micro-credit financing, corporate philanthropy as well as the power of the media.

"By gathering regional and international leaders from the political, academic and business sectors, our objective is to inspire women to exercise their leadership skills and supporting women entrepreneurship," explained Sophie Le Ray, chief executive of naseba, the organiser of the forum.

She said naseba aimed to set an annual rendezvous for business women to network, share experiences and facilitate deal opportunities among peers.

BERNAMA