JEDDAH, 12 December 2005 — The Khadija bint Khuwailid Center for Businesswomen at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (JCCI) is celebrating its first anniversary.
The center plays a vitally important role in supporting businesswomen and providing different services related to training, research and information. Throughout the year, staff of the center have participated and organized seminars, programs, research papers and exhibitions that educate businesswomen about their rights, develop their skills and contribute to removing obstacles facing businesswomen.
Although the center’s main target is the chamber’s women members, it also provides services for job-seeking women, home-based businesswomen and both Saudi and non-Saudi women investors.
During its first year, the center received over 5,000 women visitors and almost 20,000 women callers, according to Dr. Nadia Baeshen, the center’s general director.
The center was opened last year by Princess Adelah bint Abdullah who continues to be a strong supporter along with Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed. The JCCI provided the space in its building for the center which has its own budget and staff.
The celebration tonight will include a presentation of the center’s achievements, pictures and testimonials of women who have benefited from its services.
The center consists of four units; the first is the research and women’s empowerment unit which focuses on supporting home-based businesses and providing access to relevant agencies, information and studies. Home-based women’s businesses, which represent a majority of women businesses, are one of the key sectors being supported by the center.
“We recently held a competition for the best home-based product. Our next step is organizing an open exhibition for work in order to develop an industry that produce souvenirs and traditional art work,” said Dr. Baeshen.
The second unit is the training unit which prepares graduates for the job market; the third is the specialized services support unit that assesses businesswomen’s specific needs and the fourth is the marketing and public relations unit.
The center has managed to establish itself as a credible and important agency for the public and the private sector. The center is currently training the first group of women to work in the soon-to-be-opened Ministry of Labor Women’s Branch in Jeddah.
The center is also now performing the role of the General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training (GOTEVOT) in licensing women’s training centers until the GOTEVOT opens a women’s branch. The center also works closely with charity organizations and the Human Resources Development Fund.
One of the worst obstacles encountered by businesswomen in the Kingdom is the requirement for a woman to have a legal male guardian who conducts their business. “By being represented on the board, the women’s presence will definitely help their growth,” said Muhammad Al-Sharif, secretary-general of the chamber.
He said that another obstacle women face is funding and recently, after doing feasibility studies, a number of businessmen agreed to establish a SR100 million fund to assist small businesses.
