MENA Businesswomen's Network Concludes its First Board of Directors' Meeting in Jordan Announcing a Number of Developmental Initiatives

AMMAN, Jordan, May 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Members of the Middle East and North Africa Businesswomen's Network (MENA BWN) concluded their first Board of Directors' meeting that started in the Jordanian capital Amman on Wednesday, where they discussed a number of key issues aimed at enabling Arab businesswomen and strengthening their presence in decision-making centers in both the public and private sectors.

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Members of MENA BWN, representing 11 Arab countries, said that the two-day meeting was an outstanding opportunity to exchange expertise and knowledge and to discuss ways of strengthening women's representation in higher places in the private sector and elevating women's participation in investment and the economy in general.

Jordanian businesswoman Reem Badran, President of MENA BWN, said in a press conference at the end of the Network's meetings that the level of women's involvement in the Arab economy is still low and below aspirations. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Arab women's economic participation does not exceed 28%, and these women have great potential to prove a tangible presence in all the fields of the economic sector.

Badran added that the Network was able to connect with regional and international economic and investment corporations to introduce its mission and to further strengthen Arab women's participation in leading international economic podiums and forums, and their networking with larger numbers of developmental and financing corporations.

Badran noted that the main objectives of the Network include financial empowerment for women through financial inclusion policies and finding ways to fund projects founded by female entrepreneurs through connecting with regional and international financial and developmental institutions that support their ideas and efforts. Badran thanked the Chairman and Board Members of the Amman Chamber of Commerce for supporting the network and its goals.

The Secretary General of MENA BWN, Bahraini Businesswomen Society's representative and member of the Board of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce, Afnan Al Zayani, who is in charge of the mentoring program for businesswomen and entrepreneurs, said that the network's work will focus on enabling women and increasing the chances of their contribution in the job market, especially with the rise in unemployment levels in the Arab world, which has had direct and negative effects on society. She pointed out that the network's efforts will focus on inviting strategic partners to provide financial support to women entrepreneurs.