10/05/2009
Abdur-Rahamn ibn Rashid Al-Rashid, the Chairman of Asharqia Chamber, revealed that the growing vitality of Saudi businesswomen is evident by the number of businesswomen registered with the Chamber which had reached approximately 31,265 by the end of last November and almost 40,000 by the end of the first quarter of 2009.
The press conference, held two days before the beginning of the forum, was attended by Adnan ibn Abdullah Al-Nueim, the Secretary General of Asharqia Chamber, Abdur-Rahman Al-Wabil, the Assistant Secretary General for Member Affairs and Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the forum, and by Sami Abu Suraih, the Assistant Secretary General for Media and Public Relations.
Al-Rashid said that the investments of women have reached approximately 42 billion riyals and they have almost 100 billion riyals in Saudi Banks.
Al-Rashid also said that sadly the unemployment rate amongst women is about 27% with figures amongst women holding advanced degrees particularly bad. He stressed the necessity to formulate an effective strategy to benefit from a quarter of the workforce currently unused in the Kingdom.
He said the 2009 Women's Economic Forum entitled "Women As Development Partners" will have 17 business women, journalists and intellectuals from all over the region speaking at the forum. A number of research papers and topics will be discussed including: The Participation of Women in the Economy....A National and Social Necessity, The Social Responsibility For Companies to Include Women In Economic Development, The Economic and Social Participation of Arab Women: Opportunity and Development, The Participation of Women Is a Necessity Not A Luxury, as well as other important topics. All of this with the goal of increasing the participation of women in economics.
Al-Rashid thanked His Royal Highness Prince Muhammed ibn Fahad ibn Abdul-Aziz, the Governor of the Eastern Region, and Prince Jalawiy ibn Abdul-Aziz ibn Musa'id, the Deputy Governor of the Eastern Region, for their continuous support for Chamber initiatives. He also thanked Princess Jawahir bint Naif ibn Abdul-Aziz, the wife of the Governor of the Eastern Province, for her exemplary leadership on behalf of businesswomen, in particular her support for Chamber initiatives for businesswomen. He also thanked Princess Luw'luw'ah Al-Faisal for her participation as the main speaker at the forum. He also thanked Dr. Hissa bint Sa'd ibn Abdullah As-Sabah, the Chairperson of the Arab Businesswomen's Committee for her participation in two sessions of the forum.
Al-Rashid said that the economic participation of women still had not reached the desired level despite strong support from the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah ibn Abdul-Aziz, adding that this forum will shed light on the changes needed to expand economic participation of women..
