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KUALA LUMPUR (March 6): Bursa Malaysia has launched a campaign aimed at raising awareness on the importance of equal access to investment opportunities and to reduce the gender investing gap in the local equity market.

Dubbed “Equality for Equity”, the campaign is centred on leveraging Bursa’s unique position as a frontline regulator and public-listed company (PLC) to inspire and promote equality in the marketplace and the wider community.

Its launch is in line with the core objectives of the “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality”, a collaboration involving stock exchanges around the world to raise awareness on the importance of women’s economic empowerment to business growth and development.

“While we continue with efforts to reduce gender equality gaps in the workplace, it is important to acknowledge the existence of the gender investing gap in our equity market as well," Bursa CEO Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift said.

He noted that in Malaysia, women investors only make up about 30% of retail investors in its equity market.

"Therefore, achieving equality for equity will enable both women and men to make financial decisions that will have a positive impact on their financial well-being.

“There is much work to be done. Reducing the gender investing gap is a key strategic focus for the exchange over the long term. While we might not be able to achieve this immediately, we hope this small step can help promote greater awareness and draw attention to the critical role markets can play in closing the gender inequality gaps,” Umar added.

Source: https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/bursa-launches-campaign-aimed-reducing-gender-investing-gap