PRESIDENT OF MAURITIUS AMEENAH GURIB FAKIM HOSTS WOMENS FORUM FOR THE 1ST TIME

USPA NEWS - Women´s Forum for Economy and Society held a high level meeting in Mauritius last June 20-21st, called “ Meeting the Climate challenges for SIDS and Africa“ at Sugar Beach Hotel. The President of Mauritius Ameenah Gurib Fakim, welcomed the African and SIDS women coming to attend the intense forum,

INTRODUCTION AND HOST COUNTRY AND FORUM WELCOME BY PRESIDENT AMEENAH GURIB FAKIM H.E Dr Ameenah Gurib Fakim and Jacqueline Franjou, CEO of Women´s Forum have introduced the Forum, at Sugar Beach resort Hotel, Mauritius, on June 20th. The forum is held for the first time in Africa Region and will debate about “The climate challenges for SIDS& Africa“ during the two days of the mini summit. Panel discussions,, debates, work sessions, luncheon, networking cffe-breaks, and luncheon, cocktails and inner are planned during this event held in a paradisiac island of the Indian Ocean. The weather is beautiful and facilities the smooth organisation of the unique forum for women, made by women, and also opened for male participants of high levels from all disciplines. It is also a chance for who ever never been to Mauritius Island before and discover a peaceful country with exemplarity in succeeding the multicultural aspect of the citizenship. Among hindu, Muslims, christians and any other religion is welcomed here and where the people are living together in a peaceful and respectful way of life that can be enviable. One bet is that most of the participants said they would definitely come back to Mauritius, thanks to the kindness, generosity, welcoming and the great quality of content of the sessions. “I welcome all the participants as well as the foreign delegations who have travelled to Mauritius for the Forum. I have no doubt that we would all have an exciting time together. ´m delighted to be associated with the organisation of the Women´s Forum 2016, which is held for the first time in the African region, in particular in a Small Island Developing State (SIDS). The main objective of the forum is to underscore the preparedness of Mauritius, SIDS and African Countries in addressing the challenges and implications of climate change.´ H.E Dr Ameenah Gurib Fakim stated, as a word of introduction.

The luncheon and last dinner animated by Paul Boating Member of House of Lords, in UK, who is a leading figure on Africa and its development was amazingly lively and full of energy to boost up the attention of the participants already busy eating the delicious Mauritius cuisine. In fact there was no real “pause“ or break really, but that is the format of Women´s Forum in the line of a maximum period of networking in order to exchange rather than eating or relaxing. the forum is so short in two days that it is planned to be a platform for exchanging ideas, point of vies and even the phone numbers and contact details to promote each other actions and activate the initiative of each woman participants. That is the way it is at Women´s Forum either it is a regional session like here in Mauritius or in the Flagship from in Deauville, each year. Meeting the next generations of leaders, a cocktail organised by HEC Paris, School of Management to deliver an awed “HEC African Women Leaders Award fr Corporate Social Innovation“ The last debate of the second day, showcased Nicolas Hulot (1) who spoke for a 30 minutes non stop, sitting alongside Patrick Poivre D´Arvor who gave him the gentleman politeness and not stopping him from his monologue. That was a intense and emotional moment of oral expression, who made him very loudly applauded by the President Ameenah Gurib Fakim, and the rest of audience, hypnotised by his unprepared sincere speech.---------------------------------- The last moment of gathering during the dinner reception at Le Manoir, Sugar Beach Resort, was concluded by the remarks of our hosts the President Ameenah Gurib Fakim and Jacqueline Franjou and Fatih Mehmet Kursun (2).------------------------- (1) Nicolas Hulot is President of the Fondation Nicolas Hulot for Nature and Mankind and invited in 2006 French Presidential candidates to commit to an Ecological Pact. The Pact was then backed by around 750 000 people and helped put environment high on the political agenda. He was appointed as Special Envoy of the President Hollande of French republic, for protecting the Planet until January 2016. (2), CEO Mauritius Madagascar Turkish Airlines.