Trump honours women on International Women’s Day

Washington: President Donald Trump on Friday wished all women on the occasion of International Women’s Day and honoured them for their “vital role in shaping and strengthening families, governments, and businesses.”

In a statement issued by the White House on the occasion, the US President said, “We honour women worldwide for their vital role in shaping and strengthening our communities, families, governments, and businesses. We celebrate their vision, leadership, and courage, and we reaffirm our commitment to promoting equal opportunity for women everywhere.”

“Through the efforts of remarkable women trailblazers in the United States and around the world, we have made tremendous progress in the fight for equality and justice for all. My Administration has championed initiatives to promote women’s global economic empowerment through business, technology, and increased access to capital,” Trump said.

The initiatives include the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative, Canada–United States Council for Advancement of Women Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders, Overseas Private Investment Corporation’s 2X Women’s Initiative, and United States Agency for International Development’s Women Connect Challenge, the statement read.

President Trump further went on saying that he signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum to launch the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative to help at least 50 million women in developing countries fully and freely participate in their local economies by 2025.

According to the President, this historic initiative is the Federal Government’s first integrated approach to global women’s economic empowerment and a tremendous step in supporting women.

The W-GDP Initiative is coordinating its efforts with individuals in the private sector, civil society, diplomatic community, and Congress to promote workforce development and skills training, improve access to capital, and implement reforms that enable greater economic participation. Women’s participation in the workforce, free of discrimination and injustice, results in safer, stronger, and freer nations.

“As my Administration continues to support women around the globe, it is also fighting for women in the US. Through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, my Administration is providing tax relief to parents by doubling the child tax credit and preserving the child and dependent care credit,” President Trump said.

“Thanks to our economic policies, women’s unemployment in the US has reached the lowest level in 65 years and more than two million more women are working today than in November 2016,” he said.

The US President took to Twitter saying, “Women’s unemployment rate is down to 3.6 per cent – was 7.9 per cent in January 2011. Things are looking good.”

“When women are economically empowered, they are able to invest more in their families and communities, producing a multiplier effect that spurs economic growth and contributes to global stability,” the statement said.

“We remain vigilant in our pursuit of equality and opportunity so that all women may blaze new trails, pursue their dreams, and reach their full potential,” the statement read.

[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]