Qatari Businesswomen's Investments in Local Market Reach QR 30 Billion

Munich, October 17 (QNA) - The volume of Qatari businesswomen's investments in the local market reached about QR 30 billion in various fields such as banking, trade, tourism, manufacturing, handicrafts, productive families and the stock market, according to statistics from the Qatari Business Women Association. The statistics presented by the delegation of the Association at the German-Arab Women Business Leaders' Summit in Munich, which concluded today showed that the Qatari women occupy 20 percent of the companies operating in the country, while registered trade records jumped from 1400 commercial records in 2014 to about 4000 companies registered at the end of last year. The delegation also pointed out that 2017 witnessed Qatari women entering the parliament for the first time, representing 15 percent of the members, in addition to being elected to the municipal councils, and being an official spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations and a representative of the Board of Directors of Qatar Chamber. The Qatari Business Women Association asserted that women occupy many senior positions in government institutions and the private sector. There are more than 2,000 Qatari women in legislative, higher and administrative positions according to the statistics of the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics on the workforce in Qatar. The presentation included important details about the economic role of women in Qatar and their efforts in the development of the country. Qatar Businesswomen Association said that Qatar is experiencing a unique economic experience of transitioning from a hydrocarbon-based economy to a knowledge-based economy, taking advantage of the financial accumulation of past years. The Vice President of the Qatari Business Women Association Aisha Alfardan, said in a speech at the forum that the Association is participating in the event, which comes about a month after the Investment and Business Forum in Germany, which underlines the strength of relations between the two countries and enhances the level of trade and economic partnerships between them. Alfardan called on businesswomen from all over the world to visit Qatar to take a look at the economic development of our country in preparation for the 2022 World Cup despite regional changes and global economic ris Alfardan stressed that Qatar has made great strides in developing and empowering Qatari women's educational and vocational capabilities and has made every possible effort to remove barriers and enhance its role at all levels and fields. She pointed to the high rate of economic participation of women in the labor market, which is linked to the high level of educational attainment, "an inevitable result of Qatar being ranked first in the Arab world and fourth in the quality of education according to Davos World Forum." She pointed out that these results made Qatari women hold ministerial and leadership positions and enabled them to enter new fields, such as the diplomatic field and international representation, military, political and parliamentary. Alfardan added that the State had supported the empowerment of women through the promulgation of many laws and regulations governing their work, such as the Human Resources Act and the Family Code, and through the establishment and economic empowerment of a number of social institutions specializing in support and family counseling services. The vice President of the Qatari Business Women Association praised the country's leadership for the advancement of Qatari women and pushing them towards economic and political participation, as well as their brother, pointing out that this is stipulated in the Qatari Constitution, which explicitly referred to the equality of women with men in rights and duties, and to focus on its hoped-for role in achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030. She pointed to the blockade imposed on the State of Qatar since the fifth of June 2017, stressing that the State, however, continues in its approach "and that the women of Qatar will spare no effort to play their social and economic role." She explained that the majority of women projects are characterized by relying on continuous innovation and development and non-traditional ideas and not rely on capital only. The forum discussed a number of topics such as enhancing women's participation in the economy, the role of businesswomen as a driver of economic changes and economic growth, and other topics related to the importance of diversification and capacity-building and the future of the knowledge economy. (QNA)