The Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC) is gearing up to launch new initiatives during this year to improve the workplace environment for women in the emirate of Sharjah.
The SBWC Board highlighted that the initiatives will be launched in collaboration with local bodies and institutions in Sharjah and the UAE, with the aim of increasing the level of support and facilities provided to women in the business sector, and raising confidence in women's abilities to compete, develop their enterprises and achieve successes in the private business sector.
The initiatives were announced during the first board meeting of 2015 of the Sharjah Business Women Council, which was held at its headquarters in the Executive Office of the wife of His Highness, the Ruler of Sharjah.
Presided over by Ameera BinKaram, Chairperson of the Sharjah Business Women Council, the meeting was attended by the board members.
The meeting reviewed SBWC's major achievements of 2014 along with projects and proposals underway and further approved the 2015 budget. It also saw the electronic election of the Board's first and second vice chairpersons, as well as the Secretary General.
At the start of the meeting, Ameera BinKaram commended the immense support extended by H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of H.H. The Ruler of Sharjah and Honorary Patron of the SBWC, to women in Sharjah.
She expressed her thanks and appreciation to board members for their impressive performance in 2014, the year of challenges and achievements, during which many projects and activities were brought into action to strengthen the SBWC's position in providing an ideal environment for women to galvanise their contribution to economic life in the UAE, and support business women who aspire to operate in regional and international markets.
The SBWC Chairperson lauded the directives of Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi for her outstanding role in supporting women's work and encouraging women entrepreneurs in Sharjah and the UAE to make use of the facilities provided for them. She pointed out that UAE women today have become business owners, chairpersons and executive directors for dozens of influential companies in the local and regional economy.
The meeting touched on major projects accomplished by the Council last year, most notably the "Anwan Market" in Dibba Al Hisn, which will soon be open, and the SBWC's success in attracting more talented women into the ‘Badwa" project, which was established to transform woman handicraft talents into financially rewarding projects, and train women how to promote and sell their products in the UAE. Other projects included developing and expanding the scope of the SBWC membership to include business women, university students and professionals.
The meeting also discussed the work plan and projects for 2015 where SBWC board members reviewed suggestions, proposals and procedures necessary to develop a better environment for women to set up and expand their businesses in the emirate of Sharjah.
The board members stressed the need to have special sections at government agencies to be exclusively designated for women to speed up the completion of transactions and licenses related to women's enterprises. They also highlighted the importance of enhancing the trust of finance companies in the ability of businesswomen to make their owned enterprises - or companies under their management - a success.
The Council underlined that it would work on the implementation of projects and initiatives - in collaboration with various competent authorities in the Emirate of Sharjah and the UAE - to provide more facilities for women entrepreneurs, and to facilitate networking between women leaders in business and officials in charge of government and private authorities who are dedicated to investment, finance and marketing, to help business women develop their enterprises and reach higher levels of growth and development.
At the end of the meeting the Board's first and second vice chairpersons were voted in. The Secretary General Najla Eissa Al Ansari was elected vice-Chairperson, while Alia Bu Samno was elected second Vice-Chairperson, and Olympia Zakash was elected for the post of Secretary-General of the Council.
SBWC aims to create and enhance the work environment for women as well as train and prepare women to enter into private economic activities and enhance their participation in social and economic development.
To achieve its goals, the Council carries out diverse programs, initiatives and activities, including conferences, seminars, workshops, studies and research, in addition to forging partnerships with government and private bodies and foundations.
Source: WAM