The Norwegian Government attaches great importance to the issues which will be discussed here today, and I am impressed by the list of speakers as well as the promising agenda for this conference. Norway has for a number of years been among the leading countries in the world when it comes to promoting equality among men and women. Norway is still among the top countries in the world when it comes to appointing women to higher political positions. However, women still have a far too modest role in the economic life, and this is an issue that this Government is taking seriously and will continue to address. We all know that equality among genders and the need for diversity is more than just womens liberation.
Women represent a resource that has an important role to play in the economic life.
Women entrepreneurs make new contributions to business, create jobs and provide for both new ideas and innovative ways of putting them into practice. Helping women realise their potential will provide a vital stimulus to the economy. Business will make the most of globalisation and the new technologies only if the obstacles preventing women from fully participating in the economic life can be overcome. The Norwegian government considers it important to approach these issues also from a global perspective. We are therefore participating actively in the ongoing work in the UN, OECD and other international organisations in attempting to mainstream operational guidelines and policies promoting equality among genders.