Minister of Foreign Trade H.E. Sheikha Lubna highlights vital role of women in business & trade at 39th WTCA assembly

Running from November 7 to 10, 2008, the WTCA General Assembly gathers businesses and government agencies involved in foreign trade to explore a comprehensive range of services ranging from market research, trade education and group trade missions to trade shows, business services, WTCA OnLine and WTC clubs.

During the event's special VIP Conference titled "Women as Leaders in International Business," H.E. Sheikha Lubna spoke extensively about the qualities that make women good leaders. She also paid tribute to the late UAE president, H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, for opening the doors to greater female participation in nation building in the UAE and throughout the Arab World.

"During my regular updates on international affairs and trends in global trade, business and finance, I cannot help but feel a sense of pride in knowing that so many women have become successful stewards of their respective governments, organizations and causes. As leaders, women have the gift of imbibing a transformational spirit in problem-solving and decision making activities. We also show exceptional persuasion and passion as well as a willingness to take necessary risks in order to enhance our productivity in our endeavors. These qualities have influenced industry and society to choose us as the leaders and strategists of their nations, corporations and organizations," said H.E. Sheikha Lubna.

The UAE Minister, speaking before more than 400 World Trade Center and trade mission delegates, emphasized the WTCA's crucial influence in helping the world recover from a financial crisis.

The WTCA, a non-profit, non-political association dedicated to the promotion and support of World Trade Centers (WTC) as vehicles for trade expansion, currently represents 316 members in 91 countries.

The Association is involved in the development and operation of WTCs or in providing related services.

WTCs presently service more than 750,000 international trading corporations.

A recent World Bank entrepreneurship study covering seven major Middle Eastern economies showed that women were the principal owners of 13% of 4,000 surveyed companies.

In the UAE, four women currently occupy four key Cabinet positions, and 30% of management positions in the public sector are held by women.

The first National woman judge has also been sworn in, extending the influence of women into the judicial sector.

In the private sector, female workplace participation climbed impressively from 9.6% in 1986 to 33.4% in December 2007, and is expected to increase by another 30% by 2010.

Women presently comprise 50% of the UAE's small-to-medium enterprise sector, with more than 11,000 businesswomen presently manage investments totaling more than $4bn.

Women entrepreneurs have also boosted domestic business productivity by almost 15% in the last five years, contributing an estimated $3.38bn to the economy.