Boym Institute: Ada, you have founded the WICCI’s India-EU Business Council in 2022 together with over twenty experts from Europe and India. The Council aims to connect and empower women who strengthen the India-European Union business corridor. Tell us what were the main initiatives you have taken since the launch of the Council?
Ada Dyndo: The Council is a unique platform that not only connects women experts, but also supports their substantive voice and leadership. I founded the Council in March this year to connect incredible women with whom I have worked with for the past years in India. I started the Council with an objective to make a positive impact on business collaboration between both regions.
As an example, the WICCI’s India-EU Business Council, together with the European Business and Technology Centre (EBTC) (advisory organisation in the Europe-India Business Corridor) and UN Women, have organised the panel discussions on “Sustainable Future Through Gender Equality”. The session brought together experts, diplomats and entrepreneurs from diverse fields who support gender equality in the Europe-India business corridor. As the Council, we were also involved in events such as Perspektywy Women in Tech and Women Economic Forum to highlight women’s leadership in innovation, technology, as well as examine best practices for a diverse and inclusive business environment.
Recently, we have also announced a new partnership with Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA), a New Delhi think tank. Together we have agreed to establish a program supporting women researchers working on business and trade relations between India and the EU. In November, we will publish together a Special Issue, covering chapters written by our Members and female scholars.
Okey, let’s talk about MANELS – what can be done to prevent them at the conferences, and what are the biggest obstacles?
“Manel” is a term that is used to refer to a panel which consists entirely of men. The absence of women means that significant expertise is lost simply because of gender bias. Diversity, gender balance and inclusiveness are critical for more nuanced debates and discussions as well as present an additional perspective on any subject, leading to growth and better decisions.
WICCI’s India-EU Business Council takes a positive action in the India-EU business corridor and contacts the conference organisers where not a single woman or not enough women experts have been listed. Inspired to improve the underrepresentation of women in public debates. We prepared an open letter to the organisers of business events to bring their attention to the necessity of equal gender representation in discussions. We also offer them our support in finding the relevant female speakers. In this way we bring attention to the problem of manels and bring more gender diversity to business and debates.
Having an inclusive event should be a principle for any modern organisation. To make that possible, it’s required to have a diverse organising committee who will set ground rules for the organisation, structure and running of panels. It’s also important to show that the organisation you work for is an entity which represents diversity, inclusivity and is committed to advancing gender equality.
You are also building up a database of women experts working on India-EU relations.
Indeed, a key initiative of ours is the India-EU Binder that aims to improve diversity and increase the presence of women in public debates. We have created the first of this kind database of experts who are strengthening ties between these two regions. It’s also a practical tool to facilitate contact between conference organisers and women supporting different areas of India-EU cooperation. The Binder covers different sectors and is consistently growing. We invite all the organisations to nominate the right experts. To promote their work and bring attention to the business organisations and conference organisers, we will prepare a series of introductory posts on our social media.
What’s your view on women’s participation in business and trade, especially regarding the ongoing FTA negotiations between EU and India?
The 2020 joint World Bank and WTO report “Women and Trade: The Role of Trade in Promoting Women’s Equality” highlights that women have unique opportunities to benefit from new trends in global trade, specifically the rise in services, global value chains, and the digital economy.
There are several benefits of women’s participation in business and trade. Data shows that enterprises with women in at least half of leadership positions have higher sales growth, are more profitable and get higher return on assets. Creating equal opportunities for men and women to collaborate on decisions also leads to diminished risk-taking, improve employee turnover rates and a balanced approach.
To use these benefits, however, women’s economic empowerment should be enhanced, also through international trade policy. In recent years, more countries have included gender considerations in their trade agreements. All EU trade agreements must include binding and enforceable provisions to ensure respect for human rights, including gender equality, according to a resolution adopted in 2018 by the European Parliament.
And how is the inclusion of gender issues going forward in the FTA’s?
It will be interesting to note emphasis towards gender equality laid in the ongoing negotiations for India-EU Trade and Investment Agreements. India has not included gender issues in any existing FTAs. However, it might change very soon as India is open to including gender issues in free trade agreements to encourage more women to participate in international trade. According to experts from India, the foreign trade policy (FTP) will for the first time include a women’s empowerment and gender equality component.
Earlier this year the UK and Canada were insisting on such a chapter being added to their free trade agreements with India. Including gender components would for sure represent a positive step forward in India’s efforts to promote women’s economic empowerment.
Thank you so much for this insightful interview. You are doing tremendous work!
Ada Dyndo is a seasoned expert on the Indian market, with over nine years of experience living in India. She specialized in bridging Polish and Indian businesses through tailored consultancy services (adadyndo.com). She has held prominent leadership roles, including Head of the Mumbai Foreign Trade Office for the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) and Principal Consultant at the European Business and Technology Centre (EBTC) in New Delhi. Currently, she serves as Director of the India Desk at the Indo-Polish Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IPCCI). In 2022, Ada launched the WICCI India-EU Business Council, a platform dedicated to amplifying women’s voices in business. Recognized as one of the Top 40 Leaders Under 40 by the Europe India Centre for Business and Industry, Ada has also been honored with the Women Leaders Award by Her Key. An Indologist with two Master’s degrees and fluent in Polish, English, French, and Hindi, Ada brings a rich cultural perspective to her work. Having lived in Pune, Delhi, and Mumbai, she now resides in Puducherry, where she continues to foster impactful business connections between Poland and India.
Więcej informacji na temat: newslettera, polityki prywatności serwisu
czytaj więcej
Liquidation of the Polish colony in Manchuria (north-eastern China)
Ms. Łucja Drabczak - A Polish woman born in Harbin, she spent her childhood in China. She returned to Poland at the age of 10. She is the author of the book 'China... Memories from my childhood'. She contacted us to convey special family memories related to leaving Manchuria in 1949.
The number of confirmed executions and frequent disappearances of politicians remind us that in North Korea the rules of social Darwinism apply. Any attempt to limit Kim Jong-un's power may be considered hostile and ruthless.
Roman HusarskiIndonesia – between religion and democracy
Indonesia is the largest Muslim democracy in the world. Approximately 88% of the population in Indonesia declares Islamic religion, but in spite of this significant dominance, Indonesia is not a religious state.
Anna GrzywaczFrom quantity to quality. Demographic transition in China – interview with Prof. Lauren Johnston
What we observe in China is a population reduction strategy paired with the socio-economic transition. In my view it’s not a crisis, but it is a very challenging transition.
Lauren JohnstonShort summary of events at the Boym Institute
We want the Boym Institute to become a valuable platform of exchanging views, making valuable acquaintances and, above all, deepening knowledge. Therefore, we undertake the organization of many events: debates, lectures, and conferences.
The North Korean nuclear dismantlement and the management of its nuclear wastes
Evidence suggests that North Korea stores its high-level nuclear waste (HLW) in liquid form in tanks on the same site where it is made, and has not invested in infrastructure to reduce, dentrify, or vitrify this waste. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg, one of many aspects of the North Korean nuclear waste problem.
Nicolas LeviWe would like to inform, that Financial Intelligence has published interview for Balkan Development Support with Patrycja Pendrakowska.
Invest and cooperate with Serbia or Poland? A dilemma for South Korean companies
This paper explains why Serbia may replace Poland as a strategic outsourcing centre for South Korean companies in Central and Southern Europe.
Nicolas LeviThe Boym Institute message to Chinese policymakers and analysts
The EU-China relations require common perspective on Russia’s invasion on Ukraine
Book review: “Unveiling the North Korean economy”
Book review of "Unveiling the North Korean economy", written by Kim Byung-yeon and published by Cambridge University Press in 2016.B. Tauris in 2017.
Nicolas LeviTo free oneself from the Chinese embrace. On Indo-Russian relations with Nandan Unnikrishnan
Interview with Nandan Unnikrishnan, who has served for many years as a correspondent for Indian media in Russia. Currently he is a research fellow at the Observer Research Foundation in Delhi. The interview was conducted during the Raisina Dialogue 2019 in Delhi.
Krzysztof ZalewskiIn the first part of this analysis of Ulaanbaatar’s winning 2040 General Development Plan Conception (GDPC) I look into the historical preconditions for the city’s planned development as well as present the legislative climate in which works on Ulaanbaatar’s future development strategies have recently found themselves.
Paweł SzczapCoronavirus outbreak in Poland – General information and recommendations for entrepreneurs
Kochański & Partners and the Boym Institute engaged in delivering information about latest after-effects of COVID-19 pandemia, which has begun to spread in Poland during the past days.
Charitable activities of the Vietnamese in Poland: their scope and sources
The scale of assistance provided to medics by the Vietnamese community during the 2020 pandemic inspires admiration and gratitude. It stems from the sense of belonging to Poland and deeply rooted in the culture order to help those in need and repay the debt incurred at the time when they themselves needed such help.
Ewa GrabowskaTaiwanese Perceptions of Russia’s Ukraine war
Since the invasion of Ukraine, the Taiwanese government remained committed to its position of condemnation for Russia, humanitarian support for Ukraine, and deep appreciation and admiration for the Ukrainian people’s will to defy power, resist aggression, and defend their nation.
Kuan Ting ChenSearching for Japan’s Role in the World Amid the Russia-Ukraine War
The G7 Hiroshima Summit concluded on May 21 with a communiqué reiterating continued support for Ukraine in face of Russia’s illegal war of aggression. Although Japan was perceived at the onset of the war as reluctant to go beyond condemning Russia at the expense of its own interests, it has since become one of the leading countries taking action during the war.
Rintaro NishimuraIndian dream – interview with Samir Saran
Krzysztof Zalewski: India is a large country, both in terms of its population and its land area, with a fast-growing economy. It is perceived as a major new player on the global stage. What would the world order look like if co-organized by India? Samir Saran: India’s impact on the world order is already significant, but […]
Krzysztof ZalewskiNot only tests and masks: the history of Polish-Vietnamese mutual helpfulness
On the initiative of the Vietnamese community in Poland and Vietnamese graduates of Polish universities, our country received support from Vietnam - a country that deals with the threat posed by Sars-Cov-2 very effectively.
Grażyna Szymańska-MatusiewiczTSRG 2021: The Impacts of the BRI on Europe: The Case of Poland and Germany
It is important to contribute to the understanding of what the New Silk Road can mean in economic, political, leadership and cultural terms for the European countries involved. This analysis should reveal the practical consequences of the Belt and Road Initiative for Europe in the case of Poland and Germany, as well as their respective social effects.
From ‘strategic engagement’ to ‘competition’. Interview with William Yu
Ewelina Horoszkiewicz in conversation with Professor William Yu (UCLA) on USA, China and Europe. Professor William Yu is an economist with the UCLA Anderson Forecast and specializes in the economies of Los Angeles and China.
Ewelina HoroszkiewiczMeeting with Dr. Uki Maroshek-Klarman
It’s a great pleasure for the Boym Institute to organize an open meeting with dr Uki Maroshek who founded the betzavta method. Betzavta is taught across the globe at the Adam Institute for Democracy and Peace in Jerusalem as well as in other institutions in Europe and the Middle East.
Peace and development as the call of our day again face severe challenges on a global scale, with more prominent instability, uncertainty and complexity
Yiwei WangOnline Course: “Conflict Resolution and Democracy”
The course will be taught via interactive workshops, employing the Adam Institute’s signature “Betzavta – the Adam Institute’s Facilitation Method“, taught by its creator, Dr. Uki Maroshek-Klarman. The award-winning “Betzavta” method is rooted in an empirical approach to civic education, interpersonal communication and conflict resolution.
Asia-Integration – Follow-up Report on Polish Policy Challenges Towards Asian Countries
The debate was the consequence of positive reactions to the open letter that the Boym Institute published in the summer of 2020. Many of its readers pointed out the necessity of broad consultations regarding the principles of the new multidimensional policy in order to reflect the diversity of perspectives, interests and conditions.