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29277
Sun, 11/09/2008 - 13:59
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http://m.oananews.org//node/29277
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Lubna highlights vital role of women in business, trade at 39th WTCA assembly
Dubai, Nov 9, 2008 (WAM) UAE Minister of Foreign Trade HE Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi delivered an inspiring speech yesterday praising women throughout the world for their growing influence in societal and global progress before the 39th General Assembly of the World Trade Centres Association (WTCA) held at the Intercontinental Hotel, Dubai, UAE.
Running from November 7 to 10, 2008, the WTCA General Assembly gathers businesses and government agencies involved in foreign trade to explore a comprehensive range of services ranging from market research, trade education and group trade missions to trade shows, business services, WTCA Online and WTC clubs. During the event's special VIP Conference titled "Women as Leaders in International Business," HE Sheikha Lubna spoke extensively about the qualities that make women good leaders. She also paid tribute to the late UAE president Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, for opening the doors to greater female participation in nation building in the UAE and throughout the Arab World.
"During my regular updates on international affairs and trends in global trade, business and finance, I cannot help but feel a sense of pride in knowing that so many women have become successful stewards of their respective governments, organizations and causes. As leaders, women have the gift of imbibing a transformational spirit in problem-solving and decision making activities. We also show exceptional persuasion and passion as well as a willingness to take necessary risks in order to enhance our productivity in our endeavours. These qualities have influenced industry and society to choose us as the leaders and strategists of their nations, corporations and organizations," said Sheikha Lubna.
The UAE Minister, speaking before more than 400 World Trade Centre and trade mission delegates, emphasized the WTCA's crucial influence in helping the world recover from a financial crisis. The WTCA, a non-profit, non-political association dedicated to the promotion and support of World Trade Centres (WTC) as vehicles for trade expansion, currently represents 316 members in 91 countries. The Association is involved in the development and operation of WTCs or in providing related services. WTCs presently service more than 750,000 international trading corporations.
A recent World Bank entrepreneurship study covering seven major Middle Eastern economies showed that women were the principal owners of 13 per cent of 4,000 surveyed companies. In the UAE, four women currently occupy four key Cabinet positions, and 30 per cent of management positions in the public sector are held by women. The first National woman judge has also been sworn in, extending the influence of women into the judicial sector.
In the private sector, female workplace participation climbed impressively from 9.6 per cent in 1986 to 33.4 per cent in December 2007, and is expected to increase by another 30 per cent by 2010. Women presently comprise 50 per cent of the UAE's small-to-medium enterprise sector, with more than 11,000 businesswomen presently manage investments totalling more than USD 4 billion. Women entrepreneurs have also boosted domestic business productivity by almost 15 per cent in the last five years, contributing an estimated USD 3.38 billion to the economy.
Running from November 7 to 10, 2008, the WTCA General Assembly gathers businesses and government agencies involved in foreign trade to explore a comprehensive range of services ranging from market research, trade education and group trade missions to trade shows, business services, WTCA Online and WTC clubs. During the event's special VIP Conference titled "Women as Leaders in International Business," HE Sheikha Lubna spoke extensively about the qualities that make women good leaders. She also paid tribute to the late UAE president Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, for opening the doors to greater female participation in nation building in the UAE and throughout the Arab World.
"During my regular updates on international affairs and trends in global trade, business and finance, I cannot help but feel a sense of pride in knowing that so many women have become successful stewards of their respective governments, organizations and causes. As leaders, women have the gift of imbibing a transformational spirit in problem-solving and decision making activities. We also show exceptional persuasion and passion as well as a willingness to take necessary risks in order to enhance our productivity in our endeavours. These qualities have influenced industry and society to choose us as the leaders and strategists of their nations, corporations and organizations," said Sheikha Lubna.
The UAE Minister, speaking before more than 400 World Trade Centre and trade mission delegates, emphasized the WTCA's crucial influence in helping the world recover from a financial crisis. The WTCA, a non-profit, non-political association dedicated to the promotion and support of World Trade Centres (WTC) as vehicles for trade expansion, currently represents 316 members in 91 countries. The Association is involved in the development and operation of WTCs or in providing related services. WTCs presently service more than 750,000 international trading corporations.
A recent World Bank entrepreneurship study covering seven major Middle Eastern economies showed that women were the principal owners of 13 per cent of 4,000 surveyed companies. In the UAE, four women currently occupy four key Cabinet positions, and 30 per cent of management positions in the public sector are held by women. The first National woman judge has also been sworn in, extending the influence of women into the judicial sector.
In the private sector, female workplace participation climbed impressively from 9.6 per cent in 1986 to 33.4 per cent in December 2007, and is expected to increase by another 30 per cent by 2010. Women presently comprise 50 per cent of the UAE's small-to-medium enterprise sector, with more than 11,000 businesswomen presently manage investments totalling more than USD 4 billion. Women entrepreneurs have also boosted domestic business productivity by almost 15 per cent in the last five years, contributing an estimated USD 3.38 billion to the economy.
