KUALA LUMPUR: Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammad Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, Chairperson of NAMA Women Advancement Establishment (NAMA) and Honorary Chairperson of the Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC), attended the Sharjah Business Women Forum in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur on May 3.
Organised by NAMA in collaboration with the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce (MICCI), the forum was held with the aim of exploring ways to empower women in the Middle East and Southeast Asia and to advance their role in all economic, social and professional walks of life.
Speaking on the occasion, Sheikha Jawaher said the UAE, under the guidance of its wise leadership, has sought to empower women out of its belief in their tremendous capabilities and their potential to advance the nation. She noted that women have been able to prove that they can excel and accomplish achievement in all spheres, particularly business.
She added: “There is an urgent need to continue advancing Arab and Muslim women on the economic front. Without women’s essential role in development, a community loses an important precious resource. This is why Sharjah has been keen to provide all forms of support for women through its many initiatives, most notably the NAMA Women Advancement Establishment, which is dedicated to advancing women in the economic sector and providing them with training and advice in this area.”
Sheikha Jawaher invited the members of MICCI and the Malaysian business women community to visit Sharjah and learn more about the emirate’s efforts in supporting and encouraging businesswomen. She said: “Malaysian businesswomen have succeeded in establishing their main and influential role in the Malaysian economic system through their various businesses that have not only added value to Malaysia, but also contributed to the Islamic economy as a whole.”
Sheikha Jawaher emphasised that Malaysian businesswomen will find a competitive environment in Sharjah where they will be provided with the same level of support that they enjoy in their home country. She said that they would be widely welcomed in their second home, the emirate of Sharjah.
The forum, which took place at the headquarters of MICCI, was attended by Ameera BinKaram, Deputy Chairperson of Nama Chairperson of the Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC); Datuk Wira Jalilah Baba, President of MICCI and the wives of ambassadors of the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Egypt, Sudan, Libya and Algeria in Malaysia. Also in attendance were members of Sharjah Business Women Council and over 150 leading business women from various sectors in Malaysia
On the side-lines of the forum, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between SBWC and MICCI. The agreement, signed by Amera BinKaram, and Datuk Wira Jalilah Baba, aims to promote joint action between the two parties and expand economic opportunities for women in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Under the terms of the MoU, the two parties will cooperate in launching joint initiatives and venture projects that will strengthen the role of women and provide them with all necessary support. It aims to facilitate innovative methods and approaches that encourage women to advance economic development in their communities, thereby contributing to the progress of the nation.
Expressing her delight at the forum, Ameera BinKaram said: “Sharjah enjoys many attributes for a business environment that are of great importance to investors, particularly businesswomen. The emirate has provided women with all means needed to support the growth and expansion of their investments in the future.”
BinKaram noted that the UAE enjoys a special relationship with Malaysia, highlighting that the country has become one of Malaysia’s largest trade partners since 2008 and citing that trade between the two countries touched Dhs29.4 billion in 2012. She stated that the UAE and Malaysia had also signed an agreement to avoid double taxation, in an important step that would contribute significantly to promoting economic cooperation between the two countries and encourage more Malaysian companies – especially small and medium ones – to start their operations in the UAE.