President of Malta, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, presided over a certificate-giving ceremony which celebrated the entrepreneurship skills that have been developed by the participants of a business course. This course was coordinated by the National Council of Women, which was funded by the Fund for Voluntary Organisations within the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation.
President Coleiro Preca stated that the collaboration between the National Council of Women and the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation, on projects such as this, “is evidence of the commitment that this Presidency feels, to support civil society.” Whilst affirming her belief that synergies between the public, private and social sectors, whom shall work together to highlight the economic potential of women within their families and communities across the Maltese Islands, is very important.
The President said that both from experience and from research, we know that when more women become empowered, the fewer people will live in situations of poverty and precarity, adding that, “in this way, the wellbeing and the resilience of our communities will surely increase.”
President Coleiro Preca quoted the World Bank’s World Development Report which states that a country’s productivity can increase by as much as 25% if, and when, discriminatory barriers, which prevent full equality for women, are addressed.
“Furthermore, the economic wellbeing of women has a direct impact on their families, their children, and the rich social networks which women cultivate within their communities,” she stated.
Empowering women to become successful entrepreneurs is a way of building sustainable prosperity in our country.
President Coleiro Preca encouraged the National Council of Women to continue with their endeavours, to empower more women to become entrepreneurs, and to continue to give visibility to the gender gaps in our society. The President also encouraged the authorities and business communities to recognise the benefits that women entrepreneurs bring, “through the creation of new products and services; the generation of additional revenues; and the creation of new jobs.”
“I am convinced that the National Council of Women, and its new executive committee, will continue to tackle these issues courageously,” the President concluded.