QBWA to take part in leaders’ summit in Munich

Munich will host the German-Arab Women Business Leaders’ Summit in the presence of highlevel government officials and an elite group of businesswomen and representatives of major companies from both sides on October 15-17.

The Qatari Businesswomen Association (QBWA) is participating in a high-level delegation headed by Aisha Alfardan, vicechairwoman of the association.

The conference will discuss enhancing the role and partici- pation of women in the economy, which is an important topic in the future of Arab-German economic co-operation.

Increasingly, women’s economic role is growing through assuming leadership positions both in the public and private sectors, where the role of women in establishing companies and businesses creating new jobs is increasing, thus supporting the vitality and development of the economy.

The conference will be held under the patronage of the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy and will be attended by a large number of Arab and German women business leaders, sponsored by Alfardan Automobiles, and in partnership with the Qatari Businesswomen’s Association and the Arab German Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The summit is organised by Cross Cultures Network, which is led by Dr Gabi Kratochwil, board member of the Chamber, author and an international award-winning consultant, who has been working for over ten years to support the dialogue between Arab and German women leaders.

In this context, ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the State of Qatar, Hans-Udo Muzel and his wife Lilian, who is active in promoting female lead- ership issues, hosted the delegation of the Qatari Businesswomen’s Association at the German residence in Doha.

Muzel said that his country appreciates its close partnership with Qatar as well as the visit made by His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to Germany a month ago, during which he opened the Qatar-Germany Business and Investment Forum in the capital Berlin.

Muzel noted that the visit came only one year after the meeting between His Highness the Amir and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, which demonstrated the strength and du- rability of the bilateral relations.

The ambassador also commended the success of the recent forum, especially after His Highness the Amir announced a new investments worth €10bn over the next five years.

Muzel stressed the importance of joint and fruitful co-operation between the two countries and considered the participation of the Qatari Businesswomen’s Association in the Munich leaders’ summit, a chance to contribute to enhancing bilateral co-operation in various cultural, sports and educational fields as well as economy and trade.

He wished every success to the delegation of the Qatari Businesswomen Association in the conference.

For her part, Aisha Alfardan, head of the delegation and vicechair of the Qatari Businesswomen’s Association, said that businesswomen are an essential part of the economic fabric in Qatar and will work to promote Qatar as a safe place for investment driven by the country’s encouraging investment climate and the investment-attracting legislation.

She added that the conference will be a comprehensive platform for all economic sectors where women business leaders and decision makers from Germany and the Arab world will meet to exchange knowledge and expertise and enhance communication and joint development of the innovative business strategies.

The conference will discuss over the two days important topics such as Women as Drivers for Economic Change; and Women Entrepreneurs, Incubators for Dynamic Growth as well as other topics related to the importance of diversification and leadership by women in the economy, linking businesswomen to technology and enhancing women’s success in the financial sector, capacity building and the future of the knowledge-based economy.