Freeman
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Get rid of the propaganda against Saudi Arabia and middle east.
Saudi women ārising to the top with confidenceā
LONDON: There are hundreds of powerful and successful women in Saudi Arabia, contrary to the perception of people in the West, a prominent Saudi businesswoman said here recently.
Afnan Al-Shuaiby, secretary general and chief executive officer of the Arab British Chamber of Commerce, based in London, made these comments recently at a GW Global Series meeting,
Saudi women ārising to the top with confidenceā
Empowered Saudi business women on the rise
In fact, Saudi women are one of the most economically powerful women in the Middle East.
According to a study by the Sayyida Khadija bint Khuwaylid Center of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce, Saudi businesswomen possess bank savings worth more than SR45 billion and SR8 billion in investment funds. Moreover, womenās real estate investments amount to nearly SR120 billion. The report also notes that Saudi women own 40 percent of the family-run companies in the country.
āKing Abdullah has a strong desire to see women advance in Saudi Arabia,ā said Fawzia Al-Bakr, Saudi academic and author, in a March interview with TIME magazine.
āHe wants them to work, he has given them scholarships (to Western universities), and now, with the Shoura Council, he is tackling the most difficult issue in our society today: segregation. If you can get rid of segregation, then most of our problems will be solved,ā said Al-Bakr.
Early this year, Newsweek magazine named Al-Bakr among 125 women to have significantly and visibly influenced their societies.
In the steadfast campaign for social and economic change in the Kingdom, women are gradually progressing from merely dependent roles to superior positions.
āThe businesses we have here for Saudi women are minor businesses,ā said Rania Salama, chairperson of the Young Businesswomen Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI).
āMaybe we need to think big to keep in line with international businesswomen. We need to help them be more competitive, to have a competitive advantage in their businesses and generate more creative ideas. We have so many clones of the same businesses; they are either abaya designers or cupcake makers,ā said Salama, adding that womenās businesses have a few unique expertise.
Empowered Saudi business women on the rise