India can grow by over $150 bn if labour gender gap closed: Ivanka

Hyderabad: Ivanka Trump, US President Donald Trump's daughter and advisor to the White House, today said Indian economy can grow by over USD 150 billion in the next three years if it was able to close the labour force gender gap by half.

In her keynote address at the 8th annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), she showered lavish praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is "doing to build India as a thriving economy -- a beacon of democracy -- and a symbol of hope to the world. What you are achieving is truly extraordinary".

"What you are achieving is truly extraordinary... from your childhood selling tea to election as India's Prime Minister," she said.

"Through your own enterprise, entrepreneurship and hard work, the people of India have lifted more than 130 million citizens out of poverty -- a remarkable improvement, and one I know will continue to grow under the leadership of Prime Minister," Ivanka said further.

"Here in India, I want to applaud Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his firm belief that 'the progress of humanity is incomplete without the empowerment of women'," she stressed.

India, she said, is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and has a true friend in the White House.

Hyderabad: Ivanka Trump, daughter and advisor of US President Donald Trump, on Tuesday said much remains to be done with regard to equitable laws for women in many developing, as well as developed countries.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) here, Ivanka said: "When it comes to equitable laws, while many developed and developing countries have made tremendous strides, there is still much work to be done."

She highlighted that in some countries, women are not allowed to own property, travel freely, or work without the consent of their husbands. In some other countries, the cultural and family pressure is so great that women do not feel the freedom to work outside the home.

"Our administration is striving to promote greater opportunity for women around the world, both through our domestic reforms and our international initiatives," she said.

She also said that when women work, it creates a "multiplier effect", and leads to more reinvestment in families and society.

"When women work, it creates a unique multiplier effect. Women are more likely than men to hire other women, and to give them access to capital, mentorship and networks. Women are also more likely to reinvest their income back in their families and communities," she said.