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‘Women active partners in nation’s development’

ABU DHABI — Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the UAE Businesswomen’s Council, has urged women to be proactive and take their aspired role along with men in the development of their countries.

“We in the Arab world no longer want to see women standing on the margin of events. Women should work hand-in-hand with men to achieve progress and prosperity we all aspire for,” Shaikha Fatima said in a key address at the opening ceremony of the first World Women’s Economic Forum yesterday.

The event is being organised by the UAE Businesswomen’s Council under the theme ‘Woman an active partner in development’ with a direct support by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Women, if given the opportunity, can prove their efficiency and competency unleash their skills and talents and make their presence felt in the society by their positive contributions to national development, Shaikha Fatima said in the address which read on her behalf by Dr Rawda Abdulla Al Mutawa, chairperson of the UAE Businesswomen’s Council.

Shaikha Fatima, who is also chairperson of the Arab Women’s organisation, told the gathering that the UAE women had made remarkable achievements in all walks of life but the most resounding success was in the business sector.

She explained that the women’s movement was given a qualitative spiritual boost when the UAE Businesswomen’s Council came to life five years ago.

“The council boasts of having more than 14,000 members today with Abu Dhabi Businesswomen’s Council accounting for over 4,000 members,” Shaikha Fatima added.

The first and foremost step to support woman is to improve her economic and living conditions and guide her to launch her own business through she will feel independent and free, Shaikha Fatima said.

She hailed the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and other UAE leaders for lending incessant support and encouragement for development and empowerment of women and guaranteeing their rights to work, education, health and running their own businesses.

The conference will highlight the role women can play as partners in economic development through a series of workshops. It will focus on the various sectors where women have proven effectiveness.

The forum aims to increase and raise women’s awareness about the major challenges that could face them in the region through highlighting and clarifying how to deal with such challenges with the help of experts, professionals and resource persons.

It further seeks to promote commercial activities of businesswomen in the UAE and other world countries through highlighting the progress made by businessmen and businesswomen.

• UAE