Datin Dr Hartini Osman, the first Malaysian woman appointed president of the G100 Global Club, has set out plans to expand women’s access to financial services and leadership opportunities through a proposed World Bank of Women.
Speaking to Bernama, Hartini said women continue to face barriers to financial inclusion, not only within ASEAN but across the global economy. She explained that the idea of a World Bank of Women, first introduced during the ASEAN Women Economic Forum (WEF), will now be advanced through the G100 Global Club to reach international decision-making platforms.
“I am currently working to gather leaders involved in financial networks in Europe and the United States to jointly bring this proposal to a UN conference. I will also hold an ASEAN regional meeting in the Philippines this June to share and discuss the proposal,” she said.
Hartini, who also serves as group managing director of the Prihatin Group of Companies and president of WEF ASEAN 2025, said her new role would allow her to push women’s economic priorities further onto the global agenda. In addition to leading the G100 Global Club, she is chair of its philanthropy, business and poverty eradication wings.
She said these positions would be used to strengthen women’s leadership across several areas, including equality rights, education and economic participation. According to Hartini, a key priority over the coming year will be ensuring women have a stronger platform to express their views and that these perspectives are represented at senior global forums.
Hartini also called on women’s associations and clubs in Malaysia to expand their reach by engaging with G100 Global. She encouraged organisations to elevate their programmes to the international level, saying this would create wider opportunities and added value for their members.
The G100 Global Club brings together women’s clubs from 100 countries, representing a combined membership of more than 500,000 women. The organisation works to channel women’s voices to international platforms including the United Nations, the World Economic Forum and the United Nations General Assembly.
Hartini added that G100 Global also engages with governments by highlighting policies linked to women’s development. This is carried out through participation in intergovernmental programmes involving the United Nations, the European Union, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and ASEAN.
G100 Global is led by 100 women leaders worldwide and is structured around 100 global wings, supported by 100 country chairs. Hartini said this structure provides a coordinated framework for advancing women’s issues across borders and influencing policy discussions at the highest levels.
