Women in business international forum South Africa
March 2-4 2005 - 3/18/2004
In Association with the Department of Trade and Industry Women in Business will be organising their first Pan- African Women in Business International Forum. The event is positioned to attract international delegates from Africa, Europe, UK and USA as well as India, Pakistan, Iran and the Far East. All partners and sponsors involved in the organisation of the Forum in South Africa are behind the ethos of the project.
The Pan-African international Forum will aim to showcase the talents of African businesswomen - women working in large companies as well as owners of enterprises. This definition of businesswomen is the same as that given to their male counterparts. The Forums have broken ground by ensuring that Women in Business are taken seriously as businesspeople first and foremost. By highlighting such examples, it is hoped that the successor stories can act as mentors to those women looking for inspiration to develop their own career and business choices [Aspirational].
- The increased emphasis on the inclusion of women within the work force is not as much a political statement but an economic imperative. The elements of social justice are crucial but for many the real value of women actively participating in their economies is one of Job Creation and Wealth Creation for the benefit of society as a whole. [Wealth Creation]
- This will also be a Forum to develop a greater understanding between businesswomen from Europe, America, the Middle East about, and with, Africa. Through this Forum will develop partnerships for trade, development, skills exchange and mutual understanding. The DTI and its partner SAWEN is an initiative looking at developing and maintaining support networks to assist the development of Women owned SME’snot just within South Africa but internationally by exchanging best practice information and kno-how. [Inclusive Partnerships/Networks]
- Moreover, the forum will also look to create a new international audience and stage to promote Africa. It will try to move delegates away from the parochial tendencies that tend to be the norm and rise to the challenges to look internationally in order to facilitate greater economic promotion and integration of Africa as part of the international trading network. There is a great need for businesses to take an internationalist approach to their business development, corporate strategies and policies as this will only assist their own personal and business development but also provide a wider exposure to the stereotypes of Africa in the global business community. [Global Approach]
- The range of topics covered reinforce to Forum’s trademark approach to developing an agenda that reflects a strong business sector input. The value of the business speakers being that they would grace any platform. The underlying philosophy being that there is only one business world and that a gender network is not a second class product. These are all messages that are reinforced by the Forum. [Mainstreaming]
- Investment potential for South Africa per se and Africa as a whole is attracted within the Agenda topics – Mining, Petrochemicals, Construction, and Tourism Development. [Investment]
- The Programme looks also to encourage new entrepreneurs with an SME Development sessions looking at sustainable businesses and for community enterprises. Thus recognising the importance of grass root development. [Sustainable Enterprises]
The Forum has already identified a number of potential guest speakers – they are leaders of the political and economic world on their own merits. These include:
- Mrs Zanele Mbeki – First Lady [South Africa]
- Mrs Asma Al Asad – First Lady [Syria]
- Minister of Environment [Kenya]
- Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka, Minister of Mining and Mineral Resources [South Africa]
- Lindiwe Hendricks – Deputy Minister Department of Trade and Industry [South Africa]
- Rita Mlaki Deputy Minister Department of Trade and Industry [Tanzania]
- Nasrin Mustafa Berwari Minister of Works & Municipalities [Iraq]
- Sarmite Bulte, Head of PMs, Task Force on Women Entrepreneurs [Canada]
- Maggie Kigozi, Chief Executive Uganda Investment Authority
- Chief Stella Okoli, Chairman & CEO, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries [Nigeria]
- Ayesha Qadaffi – The Ayesha Foundation [Libya]
In addition to the Department of Trade and Industry South Africa, the Forum also carries with it the support of the Commonwealth Business Council with lead sponsorship coming from First National Bank (FNB)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR BACKGROUND
WOMEN IN BUSINESS AT THE JEDDAH ECONOMIC FORUM 2005
Following on the success of this year’s ground breaking Women in Business involvement with the Jeddah Economic Forum, Women in Business will be a feature at next year’s Jeddah Economic Forum. February19-21
‘Women in Business’ work aimed specifically at Saudi businesswomen, evidence of the official recognition of the role played by women in the business world and a reflection of the gradual process of social and economic change underway in the Kingdom.
This year’s event included women as part of the mainstream Agenda, and featured women speakers on the same stage as men for the first time in Saudi Arabia. Speakers included Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan, Laura Tyson Dean of London Business School, former US President Bill Clinton, Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri of Lebanon and US actor Chevy Chase amongst a host of leading lights of the business and political world.
LAUNCH OF WOMEN IN BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Hilal Group, a major Middle East Publishing and Media House, have agreed to produce a Women in Business Magazine. The magazine will be a monthly publication aimed at creating a serious and readable publication taking seriously the interests of women. “ The magazine will be a publication more concerned about what is in the handbag rather than the handbag itself; this is what will differentiate us from the rest of the women’s magazines” Says Tara Culhane Associate Publisher. It is ambitiously expected that the Magazine will continue the principals and success of WiB by ensuring that the quality and content of the magazine will satisfy the business reader regardless of their gender. We look forward to bringing this publication to South Africa”
WOMEN IN BUSINESS AT THE CHAMBER
Women in Business and the Arab British Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) have combined their efforts to launch a unique membership Programme called Women in Business at the Chamber (WiBaC). This is part of the Partnership approach of both organisations, in promoting their respective organisations.
Abdul Karim Mudaris, the General Secretary of ABCC, noted, “The Women in Business at the chamber successfully marries the strength and reputation of two reputable organisations to share their resources for the benefit of not only women but by the success of these businesswomen the wider society”
WiBaC will provide women with a meeting place for business meetings, a resource for information and promotion of their businesses whether in the UK or in the Middle East through the network of national Chamber of Commerce’s.
On behalf of Women in Business, Ahmed Suleiman, commented “ Women in Business at the Chamber has come about by the demand of businesswomen who want the Women in Business Project to formalise its business network through a membership programme. This initiative is very much led by the demand of the consumer – the discerning businesswoman!”
WOMEN IN BUSINESS – NEW DIVISION
Women in Business International has set-up a separate division to help support the work of both women and men in the Voluntary, community and NGO sector. Called Working with Communities The new Division aims to encourage the exchange of knowledge and experiences between community organisations and charities in the UK the Middle East per se to develop the service provision of these organisations and to build a greater understanding between community groups of their respective work . Through training and knowledge exchange it is felt that the workers in these organisations will enhance their own career development in the Community Sector.
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