Businesswomen in the UAE and other GCC countries, along with their male partners, have turned out to be a major force driving the growth of national economies as they significantly contribute to economic, industrial, trade and services sectors, affirmed His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman.

''By doing so in serving their countries, women have really proven their merit,'' the Ruler of Ajman said in his keynote address here today at the 4th GCC Businesswomen Forum, organised by the Ajman Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This year’s theme of the event is Knowledge, Leadership and Future.

H.H. Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid said that leaders and governments in the GCC were interested in supporting businesswomen to deliver their goals and enter the job market confidently.

He also stressed the need to encourage women to venture into the productive sectors of trade, business, investment and economy so as to serve national economies and communities.

The Ajman Ruler also urged GCC businesswomen to enter into investment partnerships among themselves to stay competitive in the global market.

GCC businesswomen have the talent, desire, insight and innovation to launch productive projects to support national products and increase rates of production, but they need support and encouragement to go further ahead.

H.H. Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, GCC Secretary-General, a number of Sheikhs and senior local officials and more than 650 businesswomen from the UAE and GCC countries, attended the opening ceremony.

In his address to the event, Dr. Al Zayani said the GCC countries place economy and development at the top of their priorities and that all resources and potentials were directed to achieve economic prosperity.

''The focus of this forum should be on empowerment of women and economic innovation to enable GCC women to contribute to the economic development process,'' he affirmed.

He also called on the participate top draw lessons from the UAE's model in innovation, which led the UAE to lead the region in the Global Innovation Index (GII) for 2016.

He praised the UAE's move to establish the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation as the first educational institution of its kind in the region.