JEDDAH, 5 December 2004 — The Abdul Latif Jameel Company’s Community Services Program that extends microcredit to needy Saudi women to finance their small businesses will be extended soon to Riyadh, Hail and Qasim, said Mervat Tallawy, the executive secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).
Speaking at a press conference here yesterday, Al-Tallawy said this was her second trip here to see what improvements had taken place with ALJ’s social services project for women.
“These projects are directed toward women and work on enhancing their financial resources, train them on how to manage themselves in business, and support their families,” she said.
According to Tallawy, ESCWA and ALJ are cooperating to train the moderators, working with needy women, using scientific and experimented methods to ensure the success of the social services project.
“We have found that Saudi men are nowadays more willing to share the financial responsibilities with women, which has encouraged us to start this project and even expand it to the more conservative areas of the country,” she explained.
Tallawy said she personally handed over 20 microloan checks to Saudi women yesterday in the Hindawiya district of Jeddah. As many as 350 women have already become involved in this project, borrowing money from ALJ to start their own businesses.
Some of the women have used the loans to sell scarves, provide hairdressing services, make decorative baskets, flower arranging, sheep herding and making bukhoor (incense).
Tallawy said she would sign an agreement with the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry today for technical cooperation in helping the establishment of small businesses.
Tallawy served as a minister of insurance and social services of Egypt during 1997-1999. She was appointed UN executive secretary of ESCWA in 2000.
