JEDDAH, 1 June 2006 — A British delegation of 14 women met yesterday at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry with a number of Saudi women professionals in an effort to build bridges of understanding and cooperation between women in Saudi Arabia and the UK. By invitation from the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in London, a number of prominent businesswomen, members of Parliament, heads of organization and media personalities are on visit to Saudi Arabia through June 3.
Arriving in Jeddah after a two-day trip to the Eastern Province and Riyadh, the British delegation was met by a number of leading Saudi women from various sectors, including business, medicine, media, social work and law.
Besides the Khadija bint Khuwailed Center for Businesswomen at JCCI, the delegation’s agenda in Jeddah include a visit to Dar Al-Hekma and Effat colleges, the women’s branch of the ministries of Labor and Social Affairs, Darat Safiya Bin Zagr, Abdul Latif Jameel Humanitarian Programs, the First Women’s Welfare Society, Al-Mansouria Foundation for Culture and Creativity and the Islamic Development Bank.
Commenting on the trip, Princess Fadwah bint Khaled expressed her appreciation for the women’s division at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia for its hard work and efforts in organizing this trip. She also remarked on its importance in showing the achievements of women in the various work sectors. The trip has been sponsored by a number of key companies in the Kingdom including: SAVOLA Group, Rawabi Holding Company, Dallah Albaraka and Saudi Cable Company.
In her welcoming speech, Lama Al-Sulaiman, the president of Khadija Center and a member of JCCI board of directors, said that women have problems everywhere but with various degrees and knowing what they are helps in putting realistic objectives.
“We want to be your link here by sharing ideas and knowledge and developing skills and businesses,” she said.
Nashwa Taher, another JCCI board member, talked about Saudi women’s achievements and getting elected to the JCCI board.
The new director of Khadija Center, Basma Al-Omair, talked about the center’s function in lobbying for women in the government agencies, board of directors and in the private sector as well as in empowering women through consultation, training and information. “We want to empower women to be part of the global economy,” said Ulfat Qabbani, who is also on the JCCI board.
An exchange of views and opinions between the delegates and the Saudi women revealed similar concerns and pressures over balancing home and work and competing with men without having to sacrifice femininity.
During presentation on women’s participation in the JCCI elections, by Madawi Al-Hasoun, the fourth woman on the JCCI board, said, “We want your support, not your pressure.”
Questions by the delegates on the process, the challenges, future goals and the role of the media and society in supporting the candidates followed. In a brief press conference with some of the delegates, Dawn Gibbens, chairman of Flowcrete, an international company in flooring, said that she was impressed by the women’s high qualifications. She said it was different from the impression she had of Saudi women and blamed the media for the negative stereotyping. “You need a voice internationally. The good image here is not being projected abroad,” she said.
Baroness Manzilla Uddin suggested using them as partners in changing perceptions and they all said that they would do their part in talking about the positive image they have seen of Saudi women.
Judge Marilyn Mornington said that women advance through education and Saudi Arabia is a religious model. She said it should be a cultural model in presenting the true meaning of Islam and be a role model.
