JEDDAH, 9 February 2005 — Informing women about investment opportunities is the purpose of a seminar scheduled to be held in Riyadh and Jeddah next month. Using the slogan “A Wealth of Knowledge and Opportunities,” the Saudi Women’s Investment Seminar (SWIS) will target a market segment that is growing in importance but has so far been both underestimated and underdeveloped.
Organized by the Arabian Company for Entertainment Events (ACE), Professionals Institute and in cooperation with Borooj Company for corporate communication and public relations as well as the American University in Beirut and SAGIA, the seminar will focus on informing women about the bases for investment and educating them about the various available opportunities.
“Financial planning and investment have become goals for women and they are looking for ways to expand their income whether they are employed or not,” said Dr. Abdulatef Halawani, director training and development center at Professionals Institute.
The seminar will be in Riyadh on March 21-23 and in Jeddah on April 6-7. An audience of some 700 to 1,000 women is expected at each. Registration for the seminar is SR1,200.
The seminar includes lectures and workshops by academics and professionals in the investment field.
The topics cover various types of investments such as stocks, bonds, real estate and mutual funds, defining and diversifying a portfolio, investment risks and returns, and evaluating an investment.
“At the seminar we are only focusing on stocks and real estate investment, but we are looking into another seminar on developing project investment opportunities in cooperation with SAGIA and Khadija bint Khowailid Center for Businesswomen,” said Mohieddin Saadieh, general manager of ACE Events.
According to some statistics, women’s bank deposits total some SR27 billion and they own 20% of Saudi mutual funds.
Banks estimate that 30% of new accounts are opened by women and investment managers say that 60% of new investors in the stock market are women.
Furthermore, experts say that 35% to 40% of investors in real estate are women. Despite all this, women face difficulty in accessing information concerning investment opportunities and in consultations concerning the options available, especially in the stock market.
Banks have opened women’s sections to assist with transactions and the buying and selling of stocks but women still feel left out of the investment process. “What we want to do is provide women with the knowledge that will enable them to make sound investment judgment and enter the stock market with confidence,” said Loai Mushaikh, a managing partner at Borooj.