SBWC to help women to achieve greater success

SHARJAH- Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC) will continue its efforts to help women in the emirate of Sharjah achieve greater successes and actively participate in the achievements of the nation and its people, said Ameera BinKaram, Chairperson of the SBWC.

In her opening speech at its second meeting, Bin Karam also welcomed the SBWC’s members and expressed her satisfaction with the Council’s achievements during the previous year and in the first quarter of the current year.

She said that these achievements reflect the SBWC’s success in providing women a friendly business environment, recognising the potential of women entrepreneurs, and strengthening their involvement in economic growth and contribution to the nation’s progress and prosperity.

The meeting, held to follow up and discuss its current and forthcoming projects and to study proposals for business development and expanding membership base from business women, professional women, productive women, students and alumni and women with special needs, was chaired by Ameera Bin Karam, in presence of Sheikha Amal Mana Al Maktoum, Vice Chairperson of the SBWC, Amna Hamid Al Shara, Board Member and SBWC’s Representative at the Emirates Businesswomen Council, Nada Al Lawati, SBWC Board Member along with other board members.

The SBWC Chairperson touched upon the UAE’s recent ranking as number one in the world in terms of treating women with respect, according to the global Social Progress Index. She underscored that this excellence is evidence of the great support and respect given to women in all fields under the country’s wise leadership.

“Women have become partners of their male counterparts in nation-building and a driving force for the country’s excellence and leadership in various areas,” she stated.

The United Arab Emirates ranks number one in the world for treating women with respect, according to a major scientific study comparing development and well-being among all 132 nations of the world. The global Social Progress Index also ranked the UAE as number one for the lowest level of violent crime, the lowest homicide rate, the lowest undernourishment rate, and the highest rate of enrollment in secondary education.

The report was produced by a team of prominent international economists led by Professor Michael Porter of Harvard Business School, as part of an initiative launched by the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council.

Produced by the Social Progress Imperative, a non-profit non-governmental organisation that aims to improve the quality of the lives of people around the world, the Social Progress Index provides direct, holistic, and rigorous measurement of social progress independently of economic development. The Index furthermore ranked the UAE as number one for the lowest level of violent crime, the lowest homicide rate, the lowest undernourishment rate, and the highest rate of enrollment in secondary education.

The council currently has around 700 active female members, majority being businesswomen and professional women along with categories including productive women, university students and alumni graduates, and eager women with special needs.

The board discussed the various activities being conducted by the Council to support small enterprises and its cooperation with the private sector to attract more women to its membership and encourage them to take part in its various activities, which include business workshops, bazaars, career fairs, art exhibitions, and many more activities.

Members of the SBWC’s Board touched upon a number of other subjects, including the activities of the Development Department which aims to nurture the entrepreneurial spirit and provide opportunities for talents to invest in SBWC’s enterprises such as Souq Anwan in Dibba Al Hisn and the Bidwa project which targets skillful women in Emirati handcrafts.

Attendees agreed to develop a business plan to offer more support to these segments of women and to launch a training centre to further serve that purpose. They furthermore recommended the launch of a brand name for items produced by this group of women.

At the end of the meeting, the Council’s four committees – the Executive Committee, the Membership and Services Committee, the Development Committee, and the Activities and Conferences Committee were announced and to be steered by the Board Members.