Mariam Mohamed Al Rumaithi, Chairman of the Emirates Businesswomen Council, and Executive Board Chairperson of Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council, ADBWC, speaking at the Arab-African Economic Conference and Exhibition, has said that the journey of women’s advancement in the UAE was established on 2nd December, 1971, as part of an ambitious development project by the founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, to build the nation and empower all its citizens.

At the event, which began in Cairo yesterday and finishes tomorrow, she stressed that the participation of women in serving the community and achieving its desired advancement is an essential and important component of a nation’s comprehensive development.

The conference is a platform for future work in the field of investment and is designed to mobilise the energies of Arab and African investors in the framework of joint economic and investment integration.

It also aims to promote intra-Arab trade and tourism between Arab and African countries, to support joint Arab-African investment cooperation and small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as to discuss the employment of digital technology in the industrial and agricultural sectors and the promotion of inter-Arab investments.

The conference programme includes sessions on sustainable development in Arab and African countries, and Arab-African economic cooperation from the perspective of Africa's sustainable development agenda, and cooperation with Arab and African business enterprises in the industry and investment sectors. The programme also includes discussing the importance of renewable energy technology and recycling of waste in Africa.

Al Rumaithi added that women in the UAE have achieved considerable gains and accomplishments, outdistancing many of their counterparts from around the world, under the framework of the UAE Vision 202, which is supported by the wise leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and their brothers, Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates.

She delivered the greetings of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, who is also the Honorary Chairwoman of both the Emirates Businesswomen Council and the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council. Al Rumaithi also expressed Sheikha Fatima’s wishes for the success of the conference in achieving its goals, to support the economic and investment co-operation ties between Arab and African business women and men.

Al Rumaithi highlighted the successes of women in the UAE, due to the country’s wise leadership, in creating a competitive economy that provides an environment for safe and sustainable investment while noting the country’s various long-term strategies and ten-year plans, which are based on future foresight. The UAE Vision 2021 has achieved a success rate of a 71 percent, based on the outcomes of 3,000 current strategic government indexes.

She explained that the country’s accomplishments include many sectors and areas, such as education, scientific research, sustainable energy development, government services, gender balance, the environment, climate change, digital transformation, space sciences, security and safety, as well as developing its human resources and economy, encouraging national industries, promoting non-oil trade, strengthening the role of the youth, and many other areas.