WGS 2018: Global Policy Platform Panel Considers Supporting Female Entrepreneurs Essential For Society Advancement

 A special Global Policy Platform panel discussion on the emergence of female entrepreneurs worldwide highlighted ways to support and empower women to become entrepreneurs and contribute to the economy on day two of the sixth World Government Summit in Dubai today.

Conducted by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in collaboration with the World Bank and its sister organization, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the ‘Women Entrepreneurs Rising Worldwide’ session introduced a new financing initiative launched by the World Bank Group. The Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) aims to raise more than US$1 billion in financing to improve access to capital, provide technical assistance, and invest in projects and programs that support women and women-led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) globally.

Her Excellency Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimi, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, led the panel that also included Dr Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, and Fadi Ghandour, Executive Chairman of Wamda Capital and founder of Aramex.

Speaking on the importance of supporting women entrepreneurs, she said: “The achievements of Emirati women can serve as an inspiration for women in many developing countries.” Her Excellency went on to point out how the UAE was the first Arab country to close the gender gap in the labor force and thus, Emirati women today have equal opportunities to receive a quality tertiary education, and became valuable assets in the labor force.