Kazakhstan Stock Exchange rang the bell for gender equality
Date:
On 7 March, Kazakhstan Stock Exchange JSC (“KASE”) in partnership with UN Women in Kazakhstan, the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and under the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative (“UN SSE Initiative) held the opening bell ceremony titled “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality”. KASE joined the UN Initiative on 24 September 2015.
The event commemorates International Women's Day and seeks to highlight the criticality of advancing gender equality, women’s economic empowerment and enhancing their role in society.
"KASE is fully supportive of the Agenda for Sustainable Development, including its goal on gender equality. It is also keen to spotlight it in the business community and contribute to promoting gender equality in companies and organizations. Consistent and progressive implementation of sustainable business practices is key to robust performance of any entity," said Alina Aldambergen, KASE Chairman of the Board.
"Private sector plays a pivotal role in the sustainable development of the country and achievement of gender equality in society. We urge Kazakhstani companies to support the Women's Empowerment Principles” which will help not only to reinforce the position of their businesses, but also to make the society more sustainable with a stronger role to be played by women. It will contribute even more to fulfilling Kazakhstan’s objective of joining the 30 most developed economies," said Elaine Conkievich, UN Women Representative in Kazakhstan.
The KASE ceremony was attended by prominent Kazakhstani women who contribute to the country's social and political, financial and economic spheres. According to "The Global Gender Gap Report - 2018" published by the World Economic Forum, Kazakhstan is ranked 60th out of 149 countries and holds the 25th position under "Employed Women" indicator in the Global Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum.
Every year, over 60 exchanges around the world, on average, join the “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” initiative brings together female business-leader, representatives of governmental agencies and others at stock exchanges worldwide. The event is organized by the United Nations Global Compact, UN Women, IFC, Women in ETFs, and the World Federation of Exchanges.