Why inclusion makes great business sense

Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Noura Al Kaabi and Sophie Le Ray present awards at the Global WIL Economic Forum.

More than 600 business leaders, policy-makers, entrepreneurs, NGOs, artists and youth from around the world gathered in Dubai for the first day of the Global WIL Economic Forum, organised by business facilitation company Naseba.

Held under the theme 'The Butterfly Effect - From Intent to Impact' and under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Economy, the Dubai edition complements the WIL Forum's year-long initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion.

Delivering the opening address, Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, said: "This year's theme, the butterfly effect, shows how all of us can impact the dialogue on diversity and inclusion. It is a matter of great pride that the UAE leads the region in its effort to make women equal and proactive partners in our development. Nearly 28 per cent of our Cabinet constitutes women, which is the highest in the region and one of the highest in the world. As much as 60 per cent of the government workforce is also made up of women. We have also set up a Gender Balance Council - a significant step in ensuring equal opportunities for all."

The forum also marked the first public appearance of Noura Al Kaabi, former UAE Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, as the UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development.

In her keynote address, Al Kaabi said: "The question of whether to empower women to progress is no longer a matter of debate - it is simply the right thing to do socially and economically, it is the norm. All over the world, the benefit of inclusiveness is evident in the growth of various sectors. Women's participation in the economy not only boosts development, it also diversifies national economies and opens a nation up to new ideas and approaches."

Al Mansouri presented the WIL Achievement Awards in recognition of outstanding contributions to female entrepreneurship, leadership, inclusion and innovation across business and society.

Sophie Le Ray, CEO of Naseba and founder of the Global WIL Economic Forum, said: "Diversity is the cornerstone of sustainable economic development. Gender-diverse companies are 15 per cent more likely to earn above-average revenue and racially diverse teams outperform non-diverse ones by 35 per cent. Governments across the GCC have made women's economic empowerment a key pillar of their strategic visions."

- business@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE