The conference encourages women to pursue entrepreneurship Female entrepreneurs in the Arab world are now worth more than $236 billion, according to a UK-based think-thank.Held at the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce in London, the conference attracted high powered businesswomen from across the Gulf region who shared their expertise and insights with an audience that included government officials, ambassadors, academics and a broad cross-section of business executives, male and female.
Forum organiser Zanaib Al-Farhan Al-Imam, director of A & Z Traders, said: "We want to tell the world who we are and what we are. The women speaking here today are the leaders who are an inspiration to the new generation. They are making the road easier for everyone to move forward."
Shaikha Hind Al-Qasimi, economic expert of the General Secretariat of the Council of Arab Economic Unity in the Gulf, praised the leaders across the region for creating a positive environment for business women. "The decision makers support women and have opened all the doors," she said. She urged women to engage in a wide range of business sectors. "They should not just be in one type of work - they should engage in a variety of work across the region and the world," she remarked.
Abdulrahim Hassan Naqi, secretary general of the Federation of GCC Chambers, said: "Our message is that businesswomen should take the initiative and become leaders responsible for everything from funding, investment, SMEs (small and medium enterprises) and social responsibility."
He urged women to take a strong stand. "The ladies are always asking to be equal - but who will give you equality? You should take it yourselves," he said.
He pointed out that with the full support of the leadership and governments across the Gulf region abundant opportunities exist for women. "Today is not yesterday. I think today they have the opportunities but they need to learn what they want - not only to ask to be equal. Equal - nobody is equal - men are not equal. Maybe as a man today I want to be equal with women, because women are becoming stronger than us," he said.
He added: "Arab businesswomen in the Gulf are worth more than 236 billion - that's wealthy - so they need only to use their energy and create business partnerships."
Afnan Al-Shuaiby, secretary-general and chief executive, Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, said she was delighted at the turnout for the forum and the high quality of the participants. "I think this platform offers everyone the opportunity to learn and expand their horizons on moving forward," she said.
Dina Bel Jaflah, board member of the Emirates Business Women Council and a winner of the Emirates Businesswomen Award, said: "Leadership courses and training are being made available to businesswomen across the Middle East and especially in the UAE where women can achieve their targets." She added that she would like to see women operating across a broad range of industries and sectors. "Right now variety is the thing that is lacking. They fear of trying something new. They need to know how to strategize, do business and feasibility studies and develop the proper market penetration at different levels."
She hopes to see more women in the industrial sector and is confident that they have the ability to engage successfully: "Women can do it because they are focused; they know how to achieve their targets and if they have the know-how they can accelerate and excel," she said.
Sara Al-Mahri, third secretary and deputy manager of the political affairs department, Embassy of the UAE, said it would be positive to see more women represented in the technical sectors, for example, biotechnology. She added: "The government has been very supportive in helping women across the public and private sectors." For a woman aspiring to set up her own business, she recommended seeking a consultation with the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development in Abu Dhabi. "That would be a very good start," she said.
Badria Al-Mulla, president, International Emirates Business Group, UAE, urged women to be confident, original and willing to face challenges. "If you want to be a leader, do something different. Don't repeat, don't copy, don't look at your successful colleague and think 'If I steal her idea, I can be successful.' Don't do that - do something unique," she said.
She added that it is important for women to cooperate, share experience and be open to learn from other nationalities. She encouraged women to enjoy their careers and try to strike a healthy work/life balance. When faced with a business crisis she urged women to look at the challenge as an opportunity to perhaps develop in a new direction.
Khulood Al-Qattan, general secretary, Bahrain Businesswomen Society, said it would be positive to see more representation of women at board level in companies and organizations. "Women are capable and qualified to be there but at present the percentage of women does not reflect the level of our ambition," she said. She noted that while the laws were in place for women to fulfill their ambitions, there was still an ongoing process of people digesting, accepting and engaging with the established framework in practical terms.
Baroness Symons, chairman of the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, said the issues surrounding women engaging in business from startups to operating internationally would be examined in a special conference to form part of the G8 Summit being held in the UK this summer. "Whether you're starting out, want to work in a family business or go into a national or international business, we'll be looking at all levels of women's empowerment," she said.
Ibtehaj Mohamed Al-Ahmadani, board member, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Qatar, commenting on the energy of the event said: "The event showed everyone sharing ideas." Speaking of the medical services sector in Qatar, she said that business was booming but there was scope for finding different ways and ideas to compete and be successful. Above all, she said, "Education and knowledge is the basis of everything."
Azeemeh Zaheer, vice-president of Gatehouse Bank, spoke about the importance of women acquiring a good working knowledge of financial matters. "Financial literacy nowadays is no longer a luxury - it is a necessity," she said. She pointed out that women live longer than men with the result that "90 percent of women will be in charge of their finances at some point of their lives, while only 21 percent have planned for this."
Basma Al-Said, a mental health counselor and psychotherapist who worked for 11 years at the University Hospital in Oman, and now has her own clinic, 'Whispers of Serenity,' advised women to look after their well-being.
"Women all around the world are known to be the harshest bosses, because they are consistently trying to prove themselves. I think they should stop trying to always prove themselves; they can do it - they just need to have self-esteem and focus on what they have to do," she said.
Kamla Ali Al-Aufi, president, Business Women Forum, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Oman, generated a great deal of laughter in her amusing account of her own experience in establishing herself in business. She now owns two factories, one producing marble and granite and the other toiletries.
When she first went to get the license for the marble and granite factory, she was told that she was a beautiful woman who should not concern herself with such matters but should instead enjoy herself attending fashion shows. Luckily she took no notice - and she has some advice for women who want to succeed. "Become focused - be serious," she advised. She also recommended women to seek financial support for a startup from family or individuals rather than getting a loan from the bank.
Another speaker who generated a great deal of lively interaction from the audience was Hassan Al-Swaidi, operation manager in oil industry, ADCO, UAE. His concluding remark was apt: "When you educate a man, you educate a man. When you educate a woman, you educate a generation."