Saudi firms forge new links at WEF

The World Economic Forum (WEF) held in the Dead Sea over the past week concluded with a great and positive Saudi impact. Many Saudi companies invited for this annual forum showcased their experiences to the world in the fields of employment and sustainability.

Khalid Alkhudair, curator of the Global Shapers Riyadh hub at the WEF, spoke on "Business case for gender diversity" where panelists remarked some women would only work in certain sectors, such as education and health, which limits their employment opportunities.

Experts on Sunday said laws and policies alone could not boost Arab women's participation in the economy as long as society perceived it negatively.

According to Jordanian Minister of Social Development Reem Abu Hassan, despite the legal framework in Jordan, the international agreements it has signed and the constitutional guarantee of equal gender opportunities, women's participation in the economy and labor force still stand at 14 percent, a figure that is among the lowest worldwide.

Among the challenges hindering women from taking on a larger role in the economy, she highlighted the negative cultural perception in Arab countries toward working women.

Abu Hassan, who is the only woman minister in the current 19-member Cabinet, noted that women's participation in the public sector in Jordan is higher than in the private sector.

Princess Ameerah Al-Taweel, wife of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, said women in Saudi Arabia have seen improvements in terms of work opportunities in the last two years, adding that despite the reforms that seek to strengthen their presence in the work force, unemployment among females remains high.

The unemployment rate in Saudi Arabia is currently around 12 percent, with women constituting 85 percent of those unemployed.

" This is a big challenge for us," Princess Ameerah, a women's rights advocate in her country, said.

Alkhudair spoke of the positive steps the Ministry of Labor has taken and highlighted some key initiatives. " Saudi Arabia will soon be a global benchmark when it comes to women's employment," he said. The message received huge impact as the WEF's twitter account tweeted his remark and sent to over 1.8 million subscribers.