Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, will travel to Uzbekistan on July 15 to meet with government officials, NGO representatives, and business leaders to discuss a range of issues of mutual interest to advance women’s progress.

On July 17, Ambassador Verveer will then travel to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to participate in the Central Asia and Afghanistan Women’s Economic Symposium titled “Strategies for Success.”

The conference will bring together up to 200 government, NGO, and private sector leaders and educators from Central Asia and Afghanistan to advance women’s economic participation.

Representatives from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the International Finance Corporation, UN Women, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Asia Development Bank, and the Aga Khan Development Network will share their expertise at the Symposium, and will coordinate follow-up efforts with the U.S. Government. Private sector partners, including Chevron, Exxon Mobil, and Mary Kay Inc. have provided support and will also participate in the Symposium.

On July 19, Ambassador Verveer will travel to India to meet with government officials, members of the NGO community, women political leaders at the grassroots level, and business stakeholders to discuss ways to collaborate and advance women’s political, social, and economic rights.