JEDDAH, 20 March 2007 — The rising status of businesswomen took center stage at a meeting of a 22-member Hong Kong women’s delegation with the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Sunday.
JCCI Vice Chairman Mazen Batterjee, who chaired the meeting, said the Kingdom’s new investment law offered a big scope for Hong Kong entrepreneurs in general and businesswomen in particular, especially at a time when the economy was booming and King Abdullah Economic City and other cities were being developed.
“In this age of globalization, markets can no longer remain regional. Each market has to look toward improving its trade and investment prospects wherever they are available,” he said, and urged the visiting businesswomen to explore and participate in the Kingdom’s development.
Pansy Ho, leader of the visiting delegation of the entrepreneurs committee of the 14-year-old Hong Kong Federation of Women, said the committee was established in October 2001 to promote exchange and cooperation with mainland China and international organizations of women entrepreneurs to advance career development of women through a cooperative effort with all bodies and agencies. It also aims to enhance the status of women entrepreneurs in the economic, political and other areas by encouraging Hong Kong women entrepreneurs to upgrade themselves and organizing activities such as training programs, seminars, study trips and other related activities. “It also supports the development of businesswomen by providing consultancy service and assistance.”
The delegation includes banking, investment, legal, retail, public affairs and media representatives aside from those involved in trade, investment and manufacturing.
Shipping, real estate, hotel and entertainment, movie and TV production, jewelry, health and medicine, and architecture are among the other fields of activity they represent. “There has been tremendous interest in Hong Kong for increasing bilateral business, trade and investment with the Kingdom since the visit of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah some time ago,” she said.
Peggy Lam said since her retirement from government service, she has dedicated her efforts to improve the status of women at social, political and business levels.”
Nashwa A. Taher and Madhawi A. Al-Hassoun, both JCCI board members, spoke about the increasing role of women both at the chamber and also in business.
Taher identified petrochemicals, railway, mining, information technology and communications, power generation, water desalination and sewage water treatment as among the potential areas for overseas investment.
“We women have to play a double role — as a housewife taking care of the family and as a careerist contributing to the family income through a job or owning a business,” Madhawi said.
