Blake for women's full participation in political, economic life
Chittagong, Feb 15 (UNB) - Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake on Wednesday said women require their inclusion and full participation in the political, economic, and social life of a country to unlock their full potentials.
“This is something the United States works to support through policy initiatives and projects focusing on strengthening women’s social and economic empowerment…’’ he said at the Asian University for Women (AUW) here.
Blake said the US also strongly supports micro-finance programmes, which were practically invented in Bangladesh and continue to play an important role in improving the lives of women and families here, and around the world.
He said Grameen Bank and BRAC whose pioneering work has helped millions of poor people, mostly women, to pull themselves and their families out of poverty.
Blake admitted Bangladesh has made women’s empowerment a national priority, resulting in steep drops in maternal and infant mortality, and more girls attending and graduating from schools.
Like Bangladesh, he said, the United States supports activities that empower women, as it is impossible for a country to realise its full potential, to advance or develop, if half of the population is excluded from meaningful participation in political or economic life.
By preparing women to be skilled professionals, innovators, and service-oriented leaders, the State Department official said AUW is the standard bearer in the region’s effort to modernise and help women achieve their full potentials.
He said the United States is proud to serve as a partner with AUW on programs that advance these objectives.
Blake said through this programme, the United States is working hard to develop a regional political and leadership training programme for female grassroots activists from South Asia, to help enable them to be better leaders and advocates in their chosen field.
He said economic opportunity is important to everyone, and one of the best ways to increase economic opportunity and development for all is through greater cooperation and trade between countries.
Trade with neighbors makes good economic sense, he said, adding Canada and Mexico that are on the US borders account for almost thirty percent of their total trade value.
Blake said trade among the countries of South and Central Asia is shockingly low. Only about five percent of the trade in the region is between South Asian countries.
He said the silver lining, however, is that the countries of the region share a vast, untapped economic potential.
He said it is true that change will not take place overnight, but a number of recent positive developments across South Asia offer reason for significant hope for increased trade, which will lead to greater economic opportunities and mutual prosperity.
Blake said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s landmark visit to New Delhi in January 2010 and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Dhaka in September 2011 are but two visible examples of recent efforts to put aside longstanding differences, enhance trade, and build new bridges, presenting a credible model for regional cooperation throughout South Asia.
He said last year, Bangladesh’s annual exports to India grew more than 60 percent - and that was before the tariff reductions announced by the Indian Prime Minister during his Dhaka visit.
Through SAARC, the State Department official said they see the South Asian Free Trade Area as an important avenue for fostering increased trade flows and prosperity throughout the region, and look forward to its full implementation.
“We see these types of developing trade relationships as win-win for all countries involved, and we are working hard to support them,’’ he said.
Referring to new developments in Myanmar, Blake said should the nascent political and economic opening continue in Burma, Bangladesh is positioned to be one of biggest beneficiaries of increased regional integration.
“This is something the United States works to support through policy initiatives and projects focusing on strengthening women’s social and economic empowerment…’’ he said at the Asian University for Women (AUW) here.
Blake said the US also strongly supports micro-finance programmes, which were practically invented in Bangladesh and continue to play an important role in improving the lives of women and families here, and around the world.
He said Grameen Bank and BRAC whose pioneering work has helped millions of poor people, mostly women, to pull themselves and their families out of poverty.
Blake admitted Bangladesh has made women’s empowerment a national priority, resulting in steep drops in maternal and infant mortality, and more girls attending and graduating from schools.
Like Bangladesh, he said, the United States supports activities that empower women, as it is impossible for a country to realise its full potential, to advance or develop, if half of the population is excluded from meaningful participation in political or economic life.
By preparing women to be skilled professionals, innovators, and service-oriented leaders, the State Department official said AUW is the standard bearer in the region’s effort to modernise and help women achieve their full potentials.
He said the United States is proud to serve as a partner with AUW on programs that advance these objectives.
Blake said through this programme, the United States is working hard to develop a regional political and leadership training programme for female grassroots activists from South Asia, to help enable them to be better leaders and advocates in their chosen field.
He said economic opportunity is important to everyone, and one of the best ways to increase economic opportunity and development for all is through greater cooperation and trade between countries.
Trade with neighbors makes good economic sense, he said, adding Canada and Mexico that are on the US borders account for almost thirty percent of their total trade value.
Blake said trade among the countries of South and Central Asia is shockingly low. Only about five percent of the trade in the region is between South Asian countries.
He said the silver lining, however, is that the countries of the region share a vast, untapped economic potential.
He said it is true that change will not take place overnight, but a number of recent positive developments across South Asia offer reason for significant hope for increased trade, which will lead to greater economic opportunities and mutual prosperity.
Blake said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s landmark visit to New Delhi in January 2010 and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Dhaka in September 2011 are but two visible examples of recent efforts to put aside longstanding differences, enhance trade, and build new bridges, presenting a credible model for regional cooperation throughout South Asia.
He said last year, Bangladesh’s annual exports to India grew more than 60 percent - and that was before the tariff reductions announced by the Indian Prime Minister during his Dhaka visit.
Through SAARC, the State Department official said they see the South Asian Free Trade Area as an important avenue for fostering increased trade flows and prosperity throughout the region, and look forward to its full implementation.
“We see these types of developing trade relationships as win-win for all countries involved, and we are working hard to support them,’’ he said.
Referring to new developments in Myanmar, Blake said should the nascent political and economic opening continue in Burma, Bangladesh is positioned to be one of biggest beneficiaries of increased regional integration.
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