Economic Minister, Fayyaz Ismail, has stated that the current Administration is working on multiple ways to empower women and ensure gender equality.

Minister Fayyaz made the statement on Sunday while speaking at the third session of the Viavathi Raajje conference ongoing in L. Gan.

He noted that the Government's efforts to empower women are often taken advantage of, explaining how multiple men have taken out loans under a woman's name from the quota set by SDFC for women.

He added that women have to bear the brunt of returning such loans, and that the Administration is working on putting a stop to such incidents.

He further added that the Administration has plans to provide equal opportunities for women in economic, political, and social settings in the islands. As such, the Ministry is working on collecting data through the Women's Development Committees (WDC) in the islands, and will begin special programmes in the islands within the next month.

"We are going to start special programmes in all the regions. We are working together with the WDC's in the islands to check out the opportunities for women in the islands", Minister Fayyaz said.

He further noted that SDFC has given out MVR 280 million in loans as part of the Administration's efforts to empower women.

Minister Fayyaz said that new business opportunities will open up with women through the urban development projects in the islands.