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Bursa Malaysia Berhad (“Bursa Malaysia” or “the Exchange”) today participated in the 5th annual “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality”, a global collaboration involving more than 80 exchanges around the world to celebrate International Women’s Day 2019 on 8 March 2019.
The Exchange, leveraging its unique position as a frontline regulator and a public-listed company (PLC), struck the market opening gong this morning to draw attention to the business case for empowering women and the critical role of the businesses and markets in advancing gender equality and supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5: Gender Equality.
The “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” event series is a partnership between International Finance Corporation (IFC), Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) Initiative, UN Global Compact, UN Women, the World Federation of Exchanges and Women in ETFs.
An active advocate of gender equality as part of its commitment to support the SDGs and make sustainability a way of life, Bursa Malaysia further strengthened its commitment to the agenda at the event by announcing its signing of the CEO Statement of Support for the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), a joint initiative between UN Women and the UN Global Compact that provides holistic guidance to business on empowering women.
Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift, Chief Executive Officer, Bursa Malaysia said, “In becoming a signatory of the WEPs, Bursa Malaysia is embracing the guiding principles to advance our gender equality practices and elevate our role as a model PLC for others to emulate. Ultimately, we aim to encourage more PLCs to use the WEPs for actions to empower women and benefit businesses and people.”
The Exchange has pledged to provide professional development for women, notably in continuing to conduct its advocacy programme on gender diversity to prepare women for the board as well as raise awareness on the importance of the women agenda in general. As at end 2018, 24.4 percent of board seats on the top 100 Malaysian PLCs are occupied by women.
“Bursa Malaysia’s commitment and leadership by example in promoting gender equality highlights the importance of women’s empowerment in contributing towards better productivity, organisational effectiveness and business growth,” said guest of honour Yang Berhormat Puan Hannah Yeoh, Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development. “The Exchange’s efforts in driving this agenda not only help create economic opportunities for women in the country but also ensure a more sustainable, inclusive and responsible capital market.”
In conjunction with International Women’s Day, Bursa Malaysia will also be promoting women’s participation in the equity market at the Starling Mall in Damansara Uptown on 16-17 March 2019 to encourage greater financial independence among Malaysian women.
Event Pictures:
Photo 1: Yang Berhormat Puan Hannah Yeoh, Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development (second from right) and Datuk Shireen Ann Zaharah Muhiudeen, Chairman, Bursa Malaysia (second from left) striking the market opening gong together at Bursa Malaysia’s ‘Ring The Bell for Gender Equality’ event today, as Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift, Chief Executive Officer, Bursa Malaysia (far left) and Mr Stefan Priesner, UN Resident Coordinator for Malaysia (far right) look on.
Photo 2: Datuk Shireen Ann Zaharah Muhiudeen, Chairman, Bursa Malaysia presenting a token of appreciation to Yang Berhormat Puan Hannah Yeoh, Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development at Bursa Malaysia’s ‘Ring The Bell for Gender Equality’ event today.
Photo 3: (from left to right) Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift, Chief Executive Officer, Bursa Malaysia; Datuk Shireen Ann Zaharah Muhiudeen, Chairman, Bursa Malaysia; Yang Berhormat Puan Hannah Yeoh, Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development; and Mr Stefan Priesner, UN Resident Coordinator for Malaysia at the opening ceremony of Bursa Malaysia’s ‘Ring The Bell for Gender Equality’ event today.
