Deputy Director of the Gender Equality Department under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) Hoang Thi Thu Huyen, who is also PPWE Chair 2017, said 21 APEC economies are currently employing around 600 million women as part of their workforce, with more than 60% working in the formal sector, contributing up to US$ 89 billion annually to APEC.

APEC leaders have continuously recognized women’s immense contributions to socio-economic development and have maintained support to further mainstream gender equality and women’s economic empowerment across APEC work streams, she said.

However, Huyen noted that women’s potential has not been fully actualized to make more contributions to the region.

Therefore, APEC economies are working to remove barriers and obstacles encountered by women, she said, adding that this is the goal being realized through the efforts and leadership of the PPWE.

The meeting aims to ensure the realization of PPWE outcomes from 2016 and make recommendations on necessary interventions to remove barriers faced by women in the coming time, Huyen stressed./.