People & Skills Business Networking in Cambodia Government Ministries

Gender Equality Means Business: EuroCham and UN Women Host International Women’s Day Event

By
on
Gender Equality Means Business: EuroCham and UN Women Host International Women’s Day Event
Gender Equality Means Business: EuroCham and UN Women Host International Women’s Day Event./Image credit: EuroCham Cambodia.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, EuroCham Cambodia, in collaboration with UN Women and supported by Australia Aid, hosted ‘Gender Equality Means Business’ at Raintree Cambodia. The event brought together business leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to discuss the tangible business benefits of investing in gender equality policies and practices in the workplace and highlight actionable steps for businesses to foster inclusive environments.

Welcome remarks were given by Kristy Harris, Development Counsellor at the Australian Embassy, and Sophea Khun, Country Program Coordinator at UN Women Cambodia, with special opening remarks delivered by H.E. Borapich Serei, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Commerce. All three speakers emphasised the importance of gender equality as a driver of economic growth and business success.

Following the opening, Katja Freiwald, UN Women Asia-Pacific’s Lead for Women’s Economic Empowerment, provided insights on gender equality trends in the region and the role of businesses in accelerating progress.

H.E. Borapich Serei, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Commerce, speaking at the event./Image credit: EuroCham Cambodia.

Key Highlights

Panel Discussion: Equality Means Business – How to Accelerate Action?

Moderated by Julie Keo, EuroCham Board Member and head of the DFDL Cambodia EU Help Desk, the panel explored strategies to integrate gender equality into business practices. A diverse array of panellists representing the government, development sector, and private sector, provided their insights and perspectives from all angles. The panellists were:

  • H.E. Sok Chan Chhorvy, Secretary of State, Ministry of Women’s Affairs
  • Emerald Am, Country Manager, IDH, Benelux Chairman
  • Frandara Khuon, CEO, TrueMoney Cambodia & Myanmar Cluster
  • Luibov Popova, Mekong Project Manager, MAERSK EU
  • Sandra Bernklau, Representative, UNFPA

Official WEPs Signing Ceremony

A cornerstone of the event was the signing of the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), with ten companies pledging their commitment to advancing gender equality in the workplace. The signing ceremony, moderated by Monika Nowaczyk, Consultant to UN Women, featured company representatives who shared their motivation for supporting the WEPs initiative.

The companies that signed the WEPs pledge included:

  • Prudential Cambodia Life Assurance
  • J Trust Royal Bank Plc.
  • SuDrain
  • Growth4Growth, Co., Ltd.
  • DFDL Mekong (Cambodia) Co., Ltd.
  • True Money (Cambodia) Plc.
  • Analytics & Insights Asia Co., Ltd.
  • Benelux Cambodia
  • Cambrew Ltd. (Carlsberg Group)
Panel Discussion: Equality Means Business – How to Accelerate Action?./Image credit: EuroCham Cambodia.

Closing & Next Steps

The event concluded with closing remarks from EuroCham's Executive Director, Martin Brisson, who reaffirmed the importance of supporting businesses in integrating gender-inclusive policies and driving meaningful change in the private sector. A networking session followed, where attendees connected over drinks and canapés, fostering discussions on future collaboration.

As more businesses recognise the value of gender equality, EuroCham and UN Women remain dedicated to guiding and supporting companies in this journey. The event reinforced that gender equality is not just a social responsibility – it is a business imperative.

This press release was supplied.


Read More On EuroCham Cambodia: