AKIPRESS.COM - Women’s contribution to the sustainable development of rural areas in Kazakhstan was the focus of the First Rural Women’s Forum which concluded on 9 November 2018 in Astana.

The two-day event was organized by the “EXPO&WOMEN” international organization and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development with support from the OSCE Programme Office in Astana. It gathered some 250 representatives of national and local government, development and financial institutions, business structures, international organizations, public associations and delegations from 14 regions of Kazakhstan.

The forum served as a platform to facilitate women’s involvement in the green economy, to promote the adoption of organic agriculture and to highlight women’s achievements and contributions to the implementation of state policies aimed at developing the agricultural sector.

The event was part of the Programme Office’s continuous efforts to support gender mainstreaming and economic empowerment initiatives in the host country.