UAE women play bigger role

The Emirati woman has received special privileges, continuous care and has played a central role in traditional UAE society. Now she is playing a bigger role in the new modern Emirates society, said Mariam Mohammed Khalfan Al Roumi, UAE Minister of Social Affairs, at the two-day, 5th Annual Women In Leadership, or WIL, Forum Middle East & Africa, which kicked off in Dubai on Wednesday. The French deal facilitation group, naseba, is hosting over 200 of the region's most powerful businesswomen and leaders to knowledge share, learn, network and forge new business relationships. Al Roumi, who also received WIL honorary achievement award, said: "The UAE has adopted a culture of excellence and quality in every field, and is focusing on planning, strategic thinking and the continual development of performance and improvement. It also enhances the principles of transparency and rational governance systems. The federal government strategy is based on investment in boosting people's abilities and creating ambitious leaders. In addition, effective regulations and policies have been formed and are part in the three-year plan, which includes regular performance measures and following up with each programme and plan to ensure it achieves its goals on schedule. "The Emirati woman is present within the Council of Ministers, where decisions are made; and is a member of the National Federal Council where rules and regulations are prepared. Without an empowerment plan and its development goals, a woman would not be able to gain the sufficient experience and qualifications to occupy high level political positions,” added Al Roumi. The UAE also approved international convictions that protect women's rights, such as the Conviction of Support Against All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Work and workforces are the key aspects for economic development, and when work can satisfy the needs of the people, it achieves development and prosperity, which can lead to social security and stability. Around 65 per cent of women here are part of the work force; with about half of them in senior positions. I'm not underestimating the achievements of Middle Eastern and African women in the past few decades, but I hope to see more effective efforts and cooperation and knowledge sharing, and the dissemination of knowledge. I also hope we take advantage of lessons and best practices in creating new visions that accompany modern administrative concepts and high quality standards, noted Al Roumi in her speech. Asked about naseba's initiative in Dubai, the Minister for Social Affairs said: "These forums actually empower women to have varieties of fields to have training in new ideas to in private sector or enterprises. I think conferences help to exchange ideas and network so that they can connect with each other with new solutions in challenging times. I hope SME projects established by women get the required financial support from banks and funding institutions and would like to invite the organisers and participants of this forum to recognise the opportunities and benefit from them to adopt new strategies. I hope this forum will result in recommendations and findings that help support and empower women.” The forum also declared four winners of the WIL Achievement Awards: Leading Businesswoman of the Year: Mona Bawarshi, president and CEO of Gezairi Transport, Lebanon; Most Innovative Woman Entrepreneur of the Year: Amal Al Shunnar, medical director and partner of Fakih IVF; Male Champion of Change: Cem Boyner, CEO of Boyner Holding, Turkey; and Most Women-Friendly Employer: Henkel Middle East and Africa. The forum proceedings also featured a keynote from Dr Nemat Shafik, deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (USA), who highlighted the importance of women's economic success. "The IMF can help by promoting inclusive growth, working with others, designing gender-smart fiscal policies and planning for the future. Women's contributions can enhance the growth prospects of the Mena region. Although female participation in the UAE labour force is strong, in the wider Mena region it is [only] 20 per cent,” said Nemat. "Women are becoming increasingly affluent and influential, earning US$12 trillion in annual income globally, a figure that is expected to grow by more than 30 per cent to US$16.5 trillion by 2014.” "We have long shared the UAE government's mission of appointing more women at the board level. During the past couple of years, through all our global platforms, we have been able to successfully showcase the benefits of the worldwide implementation of gender quotas. This forum also provides women executives with a gateway for networking with their peers and potential business From Khaleej Times