The Woodrow Wilson International Research Center- US released a report providing up-to-date information on the progress of Bahraini women entrepreneurship. The report was developed in collaboration with the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), which provided the required sources and related information including figures, statistics and indicators.

The report monitored opportunities and challenges for women entrepreneurs in the Middle East region in countries like Bahrain, Lebanon, and Tunisia, focusing on issues such as legislation, laws, policies, government and community support. Recommendations by the Center’s researchers on preserving the progress made at the national level were also reviewed.

Discussion sessions via video conference were conducted with the presence of Council members, the center’s employees and all concerned parties, to debate and review many aspects of the report.

During the closing session which was similarly held via video conference, the results of the report were announced to the attendees comprising of SCW General Secretariat senior officials and a group of specialized personalities concerned with the content of the report in the region.

Key government officials addressed the session which included Ambassador Mark Green, CEO of the Wilson Center, Katrina Votovat, Senior Officer of the Bureau of Global Women’s Issues at the United States Department of State, and Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United States of America, Shaikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Khalifa.

SCW Secretary-General Hala Al Ansari stressed the importance of the report in highlighting Bahrain’s efforts, noting the SCW’s role in raising women’s economic participation.

“The report was made following a direct request from the Wilson Research Center to cooperate with the Supreme Council for Women”, she said, noting that the SCW General Secretariat paid a visit to the United States of America in 2017.

She stressed the keenness of both parties to exchange experiences and studies, enhance research productivity in the field of empowerment and advancement of women and hold relevant specialized forums.

She added, “The Wilson Center report on women and entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa places the advanced Bahraini experience in the field of women’s entrepreneurship in its regional context and progress compared to the experiences of many other countries”.

SCW Secretary-General Hala Al Ansari underscored the importance of the report as a viable tool for unifying visions about the pillars that must be further strengthened, noting the opportunities for progress that must be seized, and shedding light on any current or future gaps.

Source: Bahrain News Agency