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Interregional forum “Women’s entrepreneurship: Obstacles and solutions in Europe and Arab countries”

Interregional forum “Women’s entrepreneurship: Obstacles and solutions in Europe and Arab countries”

Interregional forum “Women’s entrepreneurship: Obstacles and solutions in Europe and Arab countries”

Ahead of SPIEF 2017, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) held an interregional forum “Women’s entrepreneurship: Obstacles and solutions in Europe and Arab countries.”

The panel session “Economic rights and opportunities for women in the context of comprehensive sustainable industrial development” opened with a speech by Governor of the Ulyanosvk Region Sergei Morozov. In his address, the Governor noted women’s active participation in the Region’s business life and stressed the Region’s need for female entrepreneurs. He emphasized that engaging more women in business activities had not only economic but also social benefits.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia Gulnaz Kadyrova upheld the previous speaker’s statement on women’s value for the economy and said that small and medium-sized enterprises were a good way to unlock their potential, specifically, in the sphere of baby and children’s products. “Our task is to ensure impeccable quality of the products potentially targeted at 29 million people in Russia”, she added.

Her Highness Sheikha Hessa Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah shared the experience of Arab countries in the sphere using the example of the Council of Arab Businesswomen and foundations operating in Kuwait. She stressed the importance of international cooperation. “We are looking at other regions and at Russia. We have the interest, the money and the opportunities to invest”, she concluded.

Her Excellency Leyla Khayat, Honorary President of the Femmes Chefs d’Enterprises Mondiales (World Association of Business Women, FCEM), spoke of Bahrain’s experience and the activities of her organization. Noting the role of the women of Bahrain in developing light industry and business, Leyla Khayat expressed her strong intention to cooperate and share best practices with Russian women during her stay in St Petersburg and Moscow.

Faiza Lahlou, responsible for corporate social responsibility and public image at P&G, shared her company’s success in promoting gender equality in a major corporation. According to her, the company offers its female employees a sound balance between jobs and family responsibilities by allowing a flexible work schedule. P&G also cooperates with the governments and nongovernmental organizations in different countries helping young women to obtain an education and pursue careers.  

At the panel session “Problems related to women’s entrepreneurship and search for solutions: Successful approaches to promoting women’s economic rights and opportunities”, Deputy General Director of the Federal Corporation for the Development of Small and Medium-sized Business Natalya Larionova spoke of the support for entrepreneurs at the federal level. Ms. Larionova specifically stressed that the government offered small and medium-sized businesses loans, as well as an 18% share of all government contracts.

President of Middle East and Northern Africa Businesswomen’s Network Reem Badran noted the importance of a good work-family balance in women’s lives and stressed that it was vital to ensure the possibility of employment for women not only with small but also big companies.

President of Amway Charity Fund’s project Responsible for the Future Anna Soshinskaya shared the story of the Russian project “Business Mom”, which has allowed approximately 1,100 women to try their hand in business and win a grant.

General Director of the Export School of the Russian Export Centre Alisia Nikitina urged businesswomen not to overlook export opportunities. She explained the financial and non-financial support the government was ready to offer. Ms. Nikitina stressed that, against the backdrop of falling demand on the Russian market and rapidly evolving technology, exports could become a source of high incomes.

The third panel session, “The UNIDO approach to expanding women’s economic rights and opportunities and the range of their entrepreneurial activities”, opened with a report by Lucia Cartini, ITPO industrial development and coordinator, on the important UNIDO project that helped women from different countries share their experience of building a business. UNIDO industrial development officer Farrukh Alimjanov cited the restoration of the consumer industry in Tajikistan and Armenia as an example. According to Mr. Alimjanov, it helped create hundreds of jobs for women, including freelance jobs, in production of rugs, clothing and other consumer goods.

UNIDO industrial development officer Marlen Bakalli quoted the success story of Madagascar and Pakistan, where the organization helped local women set up production of various products intended for export to other countries. “In Pakistan, we work marble, cut precious stones and produce textiles”, he elaborated.

A story of her own business built with UNIDO support was told by General Director of Nawal Flowers, a company selling flowers, chocolates and gifts, Nawal Al-Sabah.  Huda Janahi, General Director of Global Cargo Services, shared her story as well. “When I applied to the government, they said it was impossible, that a woman could not handle a freight company. Now I own 14 companies and a capital of USD 27 m”, she said. Ms. Janahi also spoke of the role of UNIDO in her company’s development, having started out as a family business.

Closing the session, member of the Management Board of OPORA Rossii Veronika Peshkova delivered a speech urging that international contacts be established and developed. “It is impossible to develop a business in isolation, especially now, in the information age. Business is international”, she stressed. Ms. Peshkova spoke of how OPORA Rossii participates in international projects and expressed hope of further cooperation.

At the conclusion of the Forum, head of the UNIDO Investment and Technology Promotion Office in Bahrain Dr. Hashim Hussein and Chairman of the OPORA Rossii committee on women’s entrepreneurship development Nadia Cherkasova exchanged letters in acknowledgement of their commitment to collaboration. They announced that a few agreements between the two organizations were in the works and expressed their hope for future fruitful cooperation in a bid to expand women’s entrepreneurship at the global level.


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