Chairwoman Nawwal Hadi told Arab News this was the first time a specific center had been created for businesswomen in Yanbu.

"The center was aimed at creating a constructive forum for businesswomen to discuss business in order to increase women's contribution to the Kingdom’s economic and trade activities," she said.

The board held its first meeting yesterday and discussed a number of issues aimed at bolstering women's contribution to business and the community in the region.

Hadi said the center would provide women with technical and vocational training and help young female entrepreneurs establish their own businesses.

"The center will make efforts to increase small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for women and train them to carry out voluntary social work for the community," she said.

The Yanbu governer’s wife Muneerah Ibrahim was chosen as honorary chairperson for the center while Nahla Abdullah Omar was elected deputy chairperson.