In the future, women are expected to dominate in the innovation industries

A high level of women participating in the economy involvement results in sustained economic growth and social prosperity. This was the conclusion of participants at the recent “Women and the Economy” forum held in St. Petersburg.

In order to encourage women to participate further in the economy, an increase in the development of leadership skills is needed. Considering this, Russia has suggested that, during its APEC presidency year, efforts should be concentrated in three main directions: women in innovation, development of women-run businesses, and investments into development of human capital, according to Sergei Tchernyshev, head of the Asia and Africa Department of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. The importance of women in the innovation sphere will be also discussed during the APEC CEO Summit 2012, which will take place in Vladivostok at the beginning of September.

Tchernyshev emphasized that continued economic development in the APEC region is impossible without the contribution and participation of women, especially during the ongoing global financial crisis. Tchernyshev claims that innovative development is impossible without taking into account the role of the woman in the innovation sector. But the increased participation of women in hi-tech spheres that traditionally have been dominated by men requires sustained efforts to improve the training and education of women in these fields. In general, the access of women to education in APEC countries is not an issue, but the equal distribution of the genders throughout fields of specialization remains a problem.

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