India a symbol hope to the world: Ivanka Trump

Ivanka Trump, the adviser to the US President today said India is a symbol of hope for the world. Speaking at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad, Trump said that India has shown transformational change in the last few years.

Trump had special words of praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi too, saying it was an incredible rise for the Prime Minister, from being a teaseller in his childhood.

Trump also said that for societies to reach their full potential, it is important that equality is a virtue. "Only when women are empowered to thrive; will our families, our economies, and our societies reach their fullest potential," she said.

"Fuelling the growth of women-led businesses isn't simply good for our society -- it's good for our economy. One study estimates that closing the gender entrepreneurship gap worldwide could grow our global GDP by as much as 2 per cent," she said.

Ivanka, 36, a businesswoman, fashion designer and the eldest daughter of the US President, was invited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the White House in June to speak at the Summit. She is leading the US contingent at the Summit themed 'Women First, Prosperity for All'.

"You are rewriting the rules," she said and went on to talk about this year's GES theme. "This year's Summit is focussed on a theme that is key to our future: Women First, Prosperity For All. I am proud that for the first time ever, women make up the majority of the 1,500 entrepreneurs selected to attend."

Women, according to Ivanka, can help lead the way in closing this gap and ushering in a new age of greater prosperity. "We must ensure women entrepreneurs have access to capital, access to networks and mentors, and access to equitable laws," she added.

While her trip to India has been hogging media limelight, questions have been raised about whether her message of empowering poor women matches her actions.

With PTI Inputs

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