Deputy Premier and Emiri Diwan Chairman HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah is felicitated by Aisha Alfardan
By Noimot Olayiwola
Businesswomen from Qatar and across the Arab world and beyond yesterday gathered at the Ritz during the second Qatar International Business Women Forum (QIBWF) - “Women Counted: Challenges Become Opportunities” - to build and promote networks that encourage greater co-operation and pave the way for new investment opportunities.
The two-day forum, being held under the patronage of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, aimed at providing an international platform for exchange of expertise, to benefit from businesswomen’s success stories and paying tribute to their past and current achievements in Qatar and the Arab world.
The forum, organised by the Qatari Business Women Association in collaboration with Interactive Business Network (IBN), also aimed at activating the role of businesswomen in healing the global economy and building new foundations for the economy of the future.
General Secretariat for Development Planning secretary general Dr Ibrahim al-Ibrahim is felicitated by Aisha Alfardan 
The event is being held in Qatar due to its positive investment climate, as well as the quantum leap made by Qatari women in various sectors under the guidance of the ambitious aspirations and initiatives of HH Sheikha Moza.
During the event yesterday, a number of notable personalities were honoured such as the Deputy Premier and Emiri Diwan Chairman HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah, General Secretariat for Development Planning secretary general Dr Ibrahim al-Ibrahim, Lebanese parliament member Bahia el-Hariri, Jordanian senator and former minister of Planning and International Co-operation Suhair al-Ali.
HE al-Attiyah described the event as “a very important one as businesswomen were becoming very influential nowadays.”
“The world is changing and due to that we are seeing more roles in which women can successfully achieve feats and I will say they should always aim high and go for their dreams,” he said.
Dr al-Ibrahim, who made a keynote address on “The Economic Outlok in Qatar”, said only the active commitment and supports of all sectors and individuals could be able to break through the glass ceiling against women leadership and to realise the full potential of Qatari women.
“Qatari Business Women Association can play a big role in achieving the goals of the National Development Strategy of empowering women, especially by encouraging and helping women to become entrepreneurs and developing cultural and education programme to enhance their economic, leadership and business awareness,” he noted.
Dr al-Ibrahim added that empowering women and reducing gender gaps were noble goals which were consistent with human rights principles, Qatar’s permanent constitution and the Qatar National Vision 2030.
Lebanese parliament member Bahia el-Hariri are being felicitated by Aisha Alfardan
However, majority of other speakers pointed to the present developments being witnessed in a number of Arab countries saying it was time for women to take a lead.
In a welcome note, QBWA chairperson Al Anood bint Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani said the forum was witnessing the birth of a new role for women in this part of the world.
“Our happiness to deliver the second QIBWF this year is indescribable because it coincides with a stage where the hopes of Arabs’ anticipated renaissance are been realised and the significant economic strides taking place in the Qatari economy,” she said.
In his opening speech, IBN chief executive officer Read Chehaib said the event was being held during a time of political, economic and social changes in the Arab and international scenes that require action in order to enhance the capacities and abilities of women who can turn challenges into opportunities, leading to stability, development and growth. 
“Due to the changes and developments in our societies, women have important roles to play in the political field, to lay the basis for stability in society to enhance justice, equal opportunities, and resolve vital issues in health, education and labour,” he maintained.
Also speaking, QBWA vice chairperson Aisha Alfardan said the main focus of the forum was to enhance women participation in economic development in the wake of the new horizon in the Arab world.
“New horizon is being seen in this region and internationally and we cannot stay away from the new economic and political changes we are now witnessing in some Arab countries… for democracy will have an impact on all of us,” she said.
Other speakers at the event were Qatar Petroleum deputy/vice chairman and RasGas managing director Hamad Rashid al-Mohannadi and el-Hariri.