Strengths of businesswomen
By Ayu Sulaiman & Cedrina Clark


Datin Hjh Edah (right) reading a document on the handing over of chairmanship while Zhang Jing of PRC (third right) looks on. Also in the picture is Nellie Dato Paduka Haji Sunny (second right). Photo: Cedrina Clark

Three stimulating days of the APEC-WLN 2000 came to an end yesterday with the official closing ceremony held at the International Convention Centre in Berakas.

Maximisation of human resources to empower women in business, to be e-knowledgeable, to be in e-business, to finance SMEs and to reach out to the borderless global market has been the main agenda of APEC-WLN 2000.

Delivering her closing remarks was Nellie Dato Paduka Haji Sunny, the Chair of the Organising Committee of the APEC-WLN 2000 Meeting. She said the sessions of the meeting recognised the strengths of women, which made a difference.

"In as much as financial capital is a requirement it is not a pre-requisite. Our biggest capital is indeed our intellectual capacity," she added.

"As being in business is a continuous process, keeping pace with times is therefore crucial. Experiences from friends of the different economies in overcoming all these problems are among the important reasons why we gather here to meet," she added.

The handing over of chairmanship to Ms Zhang Jing, the Director-General of All-China Women's Federation by the chief guest immediately followed the launching as the Sixth WLN Meeting is scheduled to take place in the People's Republic China (PRC) next year.

Datin Hjh Edah Hj. Mohd. Noor, President of Council of Women Brunei Darussalam as the chief guest at yesterday's event, spoke of the meeting as spurring WLN to greater heights.

"The past three days have not only been successful in enhancing friendships and forging business relations among the participants but also enabled positive responses that signalled the tremendous opportunities for business co-operation and strategic alliances within the APEC economies," she noted.

"It is also encouraging to see women from different economies and backgrounds, interacting with each other in the spirit of cooperation and understanding. With the establishment of the WLN Coordination Team, as agreed at the WLN Focal Points meeting, it is hoped to further strengthen the forum," she added.

The chief guest also officially launched the Women Business Council, Brunei Darussalam at yesterday's ceremony.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin