The Arab International Women’s Forum (AIWF), a non-profit organisation founded in London in 2001 that serves as a voice for Arab women leaders, co-hosted two events with the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) at the Chamber’s Headquarters in Central London – a Business Networking Reception followed by a Roundtable Dinner for 40 top businesswomen the following evening.
Reception was a unique opportunity for AIWF and ABCC members and guests to network and help further a greater understanding of factors and enablers for sustainable growth and economic empowerment for women in both the United Kingdom and the Arab world.
The invitation-only Roundtable Dinnerthemed ‘Common Vision for Sustainable Growth’, brought together 40 women leaders from the UK and the Arab world including the Ambassador of Lebanon, Inaam Osseiran, Alia Al Hamoud, Wife of the Ambassador for Jordan, Baroness Scotland, Baroness Sweerts de Landas Wyborgh – Markus, Frances Guy. Former British Ambassador to the Lebanon, Dame Judith Mayhew Jonas DBE Fiona Woolf, CBE and Shaikha Zeina Hamad Al Khalifa for a valuable exchange on current challenges and opportunities for women business leaders.
The AIWF-ABCC events follow July 2009’s landmark signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between AIWF and the ABCC to endorse and support greater business and commercial partnerships between the United Kingdom and the Arab world, enhancing business ties between Arab women and their British and international counterparts.
Many of the 22 Arab nations have been designated ‘High Growth Markets’, with UK exports to the GCC states increasing by 18% in the last year alone. GCC businesses and individuals are already significant investors in the UK across a number of sectors, including finance, sport / tourism, infrastructure and real estate, reflecting the region’s growing economic influence as one of the world’s leading emerging economic powerhouses.
“AIWF has long believed that the path to peace and prosperity in the region is inextricably linked with economic empowerment. AIWF and ABCC look forward to bringing our members, partners and distinguished guests from the Arab and international business communities together to examine strategies for strengthening trade between women entrepreneurs in both regions, as part of AIWF’s broader mission in 2012 to renew our focus on job creation and create sustainable, inclusive economic opportunity for all Arab citizens,” said Mrs Haifa Al Kaylani, Chairman of AIWF.
The March events officially launched AIWF’s 2012 Programme in the lead up to AIWF’s Annual Conference later in the spring. On 15 – 17 May 2012, AIWF will bring global women leaders together in Sharjah, UAE for a groundbreaking two-day conference, Emerging Economies, Emerging Leaderships: Arab Women and Youth as Drivers of Change, to examine the role of women and youth as agents of change in emerging economies.