The Malaysia meeting attracted women from the corporate world as well as representatives from businesswomen's associations. In Singapore, there was also great enthusiasm from the women representing the leading business organisations in that country. The Businesswomen Leaders Network was launched on 9 February 2001 in Geneva. Operating under the auspices of the CBC, it aims to develop linkages between leading businesswomen from across the Commonwealth. The establishment of the Businesswomen Leaders Network was born out of recognition of the contribution women in business make to national economies across the Commonwealth.
Women entrepreneurs represent the fastest-growing segment of the business class in many countries.
Both the Business Forum and Businesswomen Leaders Network meeting will feed recommendations to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which takes place in Brisbane, Australia, on 6-9 October. The festival will take place on 2-8 October 2001 under the theme 'Connecting Communities' and incorporate a Commonwealth People's Centre. The festival is sponsored by the Commonwealth Foundation and is being organised by a Festival Organising Committee based in Brisbane and London. The Commonwealth Secretariat will continue to play a key role in efforts to address major global issues affecting forests, Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon has said. The eight-day conference will examine, among other issues, emerging trends in ecosystems, national forest policies and strategies, and the possibility of a global governance framework for forests.