The
three-day Global Summit of Women 2002, July 11-13, was
held in the beautiful city of Barcelona, Catalonia,
Spain, at the newly completed waterside Grand Marina
Hotel and World Trade Center.
Barcelona
extended its gracious hospitality to all who came to
attend the conference from 70 countries around the world
including the United States. The Summit director, Irene
Natividad, said in her welcoming letter, “For the
past 12 years, the Global Summit of Women has moved from
continent to continent creating an international network
of women leaders worldwide from Albania to Zambia. Women
ministers and Non Governmental Organization (NGO)
leaders, microentrepreneurs and corporate directors,
government officials and advocates have all come together
to form a truly unique web of women dedicated to
enhancing the growth of women’s enterprises around
the world.”
Conference
panels and breakout sessions included discussions on
women’s economic development, exporting, business
opportunities in the European market, e-commerce and
e-business, successful marketing, education and
mentorship, web site development, collaboration and
planning, negotiating skills, government and business,
financial strategies, and opportunities in corporate
leadership.
There
were seven honorary co-chairs: Dr. Sima Samar, former
vice chair and former minister of Women’s Affairs,
Afghanistan; Laurette Onkelinx, deputy prime minister and
minister of employment and equality policy, Belgium;
Astrid Fischel, former vice president, minister of public
information, Costa Rica; Isatou Njie-Saidy, vice
president, Gambia; Nino Burjanadze, deputy head of state
and chairperson of Parliament, Georgia and Mary Harney,
deputy prime minister, minister of enterprise, trade and
employment, Ireland.
Sponsors
included the Ajuntament de Barcelona, Generalitat de
Catalunya, American Express, DaimlerChrysler, El Corte
Ingles, Enterprising Women Magazine, EOC of Hong Kong,
S.A.R., ExeBarcelona, SBC Communications Inc., TMP
Worldwide and World Trade Center, Barcelona.
Barcelona,
in the Cantalonian region of northeast Spain, is a
beautiful seaside city of art, historic landmarks and
great tradition. With its narrow winding streets and the
famous Ramblas, people gather to walk about on lovely
summer evenings, or stop to eat or drink in sidewalk
cafes and countless charming restaurants. Many of us who
attended the Summit took at least an extra day or two to
enjoy the rich heritage and hospitality offered to
visitors by this extraordinary city and the lovely people
who are fortunate enough to live there.
One
of the great advantages of attending an annual event like
the Global Summit of Women 2002 is the opportunity to see
familiar faces as many women return to the Summit year
after year fostering lasting friendships around the
globe.
