Interviewed before the conference, Chairperson Jeong Myeong-keum commented, "The greatest significance of this meeting is that it provides a breakthrough for Korea's female entrepreneurs to expand beyond the domestic market to the international market and at the same time, establishes them as the female economic leaders of the global era."

Through the conference, Ms. Jeong hopes "that various policies to support women enterprises are implemented in member countries and as a result, provide aid to existing female-run businesses while nurturing the next generation of female entrepreneurs."

Ms. Jeong is especially encouraged by the full support of the Small and Medium Business Administration and the city of Daegu in the preparations for the conference. "The conference will have a variety of seminars that fall under its theme including a seminar to celebrate the 10th anniversary of WLN and a joint seminar on an APEC-funded collaborative project with MESG." She added, "The Women's Expo Korea 2005 will also to take place during the conference." "Through these seminars, we expect to have many productive discussions."

The Chairperson is especially proud to share the tradition of learning maintained by Korean scholars with foreign participants through visits to the Seonbi-chon (scholars village) in Yeongju as well as some of the essence the Korean performance culture through the Namsadang troupe's performance, experiences which are a rare, even for Koreans.

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