The Qatari Businesswomen Association (QBWA) hosted Wednesday the first gathering of the ‘QBWA Connect’ events, which will be organised by the association during the coming period.
Through this function, QBWA aims at creating a link between businesswomen, members of the association, and the business community as a whole. The activity includes the organisation of several functions with Arab and foreign embassies and economic and trade entities, in addition to various local and international events and initiatives.
The event was attended by QBWA vice president Aisha Alfardan, Awatef al-Dafaa, Mishael al-Ansari, Huda Hobbi, Dr Latifa al-Darwish, Jameela Mohamed, Najlaa al-Shafie, Noof al-Abdulla, Tafida Younes, Reham Sabri, Fabienne Hajjar, Halima al-Azkawi, and QBWA executive director Jiskala Khalayli.


QBWA vice president Aisha Alfardan delivers a speech during the meeting


The event was held in the presence of Spanish ambassador Belen Alfaro, Austrian ambassador Karin Fichtinger Grohe, Dominican embassy representative Natalia Mena, Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) deputy general manager Sarah Abdullah, Italian Chamber of Commerce in Doha president Palma Libotte, The Business Year Qatar director Nataly Almanza.
Alfardan extended special thanks to the Spanish and Austrian ambassadors for attending the event, which aims at rebuilding bridges of communication and co-operation. She stressed that the event is “an important step” in a series of activities that will be held by the QBWA in the coming period.
She said, “The current crisis has cast its shadow over the global economy and has affected everyone, but we have to say that thanks to the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and the policies that the country has followed since the beginning of the pandemic and its negative effects, the Qatari private sector was able to maintain its productivity and had overcome the impact of the crisis.”
Alfaro said, “Women have suffered greatly from the negative economic effects of the pandemic, especially female entrepreneurs. However, many female entrepreneurs have shown skill and innovation in their responses to many challenges, which confirms the importance of the role of women as partners in the development of the national economy.”
Grohe stressed the importance of women’s role in rising from challenges and crises. She lauded the ‘QBWA Connect’, which she said would help “restart business and bypass the unprecedented situation.”
During the event, the members of the association and the guests discussed the challenges facing the business community in light of the current crisis, agreeing on the need for concerted efforts and the importance of adopting a more comprehensive approach that allows for a better understanding of the challenges.
It was noted during the meeting that ‘QBWA Connect’ provides a platform for all businesswomen and entrepreneurs to discuss different viewpoints that allow a broader and better vision to overcome any obstacles benefiting from different experiences.
It is expected that the last quarter of 2021 will witness significant activities by QBWA, which seeks to launch a series of events “that will be announced soon.” These events aim to enhance QBWA’s role in developing the business sector and maximising its role as a partner in the development process while enhancing women’s contribution to the economic diversification efforts of Qatar’s National Vision 2030.
QBWA also participated in the 24th St Petersburg International Economic Forum last June in Russia. A QBWA delegation held a number of meetings with several Russian companies in different sectors.
The delegation also signed two memoranda of understanding, one with the Regional Association of Businesswomen in Saint Petersburg, and an MoU with the Russian Businesswomen Association.
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