IFC and CSE ring the bell for gender equality

Professor Maithree Wickramasinghe rings the bell at the Colombo Stock Exchange trading floor in the presence of IFC County Manager for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Amena Arif, CSE Chairman Ray Abeywardena and other dignitaries  

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, yesterday partnered with the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) for the third consecutive year to ring the opening bell for trading to celebrate International Women’s Day 2018—a partnership that highlights how the private sector can spur women’s participation in the global economy and promote 
sustainable development.

Studies show that female talent is among the least utilised economic and business resources around the world. Making even small inroads in closing the global gender gap could quickly yield strong results, with the potential to increase global gross domestic product by US $ 5.3 trillion over the next seven years, according to a 2017 report from the World Economic Forum. 

For listed companies, failure to capitalize on these resources—for example, by adding more women to their boards and ranks of senior leadership—represents a substantial opportunity cost. 

Making the keynote speech at the ceremony, Professor Maithree Wickramasinghe said, “Equality involves accepting commonality – considering the common rights of men and women. It involves ensuring equal employment, promotion and opportunities for men and women, equal access to credit, resources, concessions, markets and benefits and so on.” 

CSE CEO Rajeeva Bandaranaike said, “At the Colombo Stock Exchange, we encourage companies to prioritize diversity in their own corporate structures by implementing gender-friendly workplace policies, developing female-oriented investment products, reporting on diversity objectives, policies and practices and increasing the number of women holding board and senior leadership positions,” 
In Sri Lanka, the latest research indicates that about 8 percent of listed company board directors are women. While this compares well with the rest of Asia, more can be done. 

To generate a conversation on women’s leadership, this year’s event in Sri Lanka debuted a film celebrating the diversity of female leadership amongst the CSE-listed companies and a women-on-boards directory. 

“Women across emerging markets like Sri Lanka are making vital contributions to private sector growth through strong corporate leadership,” IFC County Manager for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Amena Arif said.

“We are excited to work with our partaners though the DFAT-IFC Women in Work programme to expand the discussion on board diversity and help more companies retain and attract senior women to serve on their boards,” she added.

This year’s ‘Ring the Bell’ events took place at 59 stock exchanges globally.