Leading Saudi businesswomen have contributed extensively in development, event logistics and delegate management for the fifth annual Jeddah Economic Forum.
Chairman of the Jeddah Marketing Board Amr Dabbagh invited the Saudi Businesswomen’s Committee which is part of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to take a more active role in this year's Forum. This initiative, supported by Head of the Jeddah Businesswomen's Committee, Princess Adelah Bint Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, accentuates the committee’s strategy to reinforce the role of Saudi businesswomen and integrate them more into the business community. The business women’s committee is made up of a number of business women, academicians, and specialists in the field of economics and finance.
Commenting on the alliance with the Jeddah Marketing Board, Princess Adela commented: "We are happy to be part of this very important event for the Kingdom and the Arab world. Females make up half of the society and the only way we can achieve accelerated growth is by channeling all of our resources and involving all segments of the society."
She continued, “The ladies participation in the forum conforms to our Islamic values and principles and falls within the context of our culture and tradition. The government has taken the initiative to highlight the role that Saudi women play on the internationally. It is important for us to support qualified women by giving them the opportunity to actively participate in key social and economic activities. By providing them with opportunities such as active participation and training, they can take on a more active and serious role in the development that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is witnessing today."
From an academic point of view, Dean of Effat College Haifa Jamal Al-Lail said: “When focusing on the financial dependency and opportunities for the Saudi women, the private sector needs to effectively forecast the role that the women can play in supporting progress."
She added, "In reality, the absence of Saudi women from upper management positions in the private sector and our small presence in the workforce through the lack of job opportunities has made Saudi women search for alternative employment opportunities primarily in the services industry. This has led to the setting up of numerous small and medium sized businesses and the creation and expansion of voluntary and non-profit organizations in an unofficial capacity." — (menareport.com)
© 2004 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
