Hartini Leverages G100 Platform To Strengthen Global Women’s Financial Access

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 2 (Bernama) -- The first Malaysian woman appointed president of the G100 Global Club, Datin Dr Hartini Osman, aims to enhance women’s access to financial services and business leadership through the proposed establishment of a ‘World Bank of Women’.

Hartini, who is also group managing director of the Prihatin Group of Companies, said women’s access to financial services remains limited, not only in ASEAN but globally.

She said the proposal to establish the World Bank of Women, first raised during the ASEAN Women Economic Forum (WEF), will be elevated by the G100 Global Club to a higher platform, including as a side agenda at a United Nations (UN) summit.

“I am currently working to gather leaders involved in financial networks in Europe and the United States to jointly bring this proposal to a UN conference. I will also hold an ASEAN regional meeting in the Philippines this June to share and discuss the proposal,” she told Bernama.

Hartini, who is also president of WEF ASEAN 2025, said she will leverage her role as president and G100 Global chair for the philanthropy, business and poverty eradication wings to strengthen women’s leadership in various areas, including equality rights and education.

She said the focus over the next year will be on providing a strong platform for women to voice their views and ensuring their perspectives are heard at higher levels globally.

Meanwhile, Hartini encouraged women’s associations and clubs in Malaysia to strengthen their networks through G100 Global by elevating their activities and programmes to the international level for the benefit of their members.

The G100 Global Club brings together women’s clubs from 100 countries, with a combined membership exceeding 500,000, and supports efforts to bring women’s voices and agendas to platforms such as the UN, WEF and the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

She added that G100 also plays a role in highlighting policies related to women’s development to governments through engagement in intergovernmental programmes at the UN, the European Union, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and ASEAN.

G100 Global is led by 100 women leaders worldwide, encompassing 100 global wings and supported by 100 country chairs.

-- BERNAMA