‘Award serves testimony to Kingdom’s women empowerment programmes’

Members of Bahrain Businesswomen Society are on cloud nine as two among them have won the prestigious International Women Entrepreneurial Challenge (IWEC) awards at a ceremony held in New Delhi, India. IWEC Awards and Conference present a global platform for the exchange of knowledge, experience and connectivity among women business owners worldwide.

Started in 2007, it is an initiative of FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO), Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce (New York) and US Department of State. IWEC was established with the goal of connecting small and mid-size women business owners globally- those who are already in the global marketplace and want to expand or are ripe to get into the market and learn from other women leaders.

Also, an important aspect of IWEC awardees is their commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility programs in mentoring, board participation, community outreach, sustainability, etc. Speaking to Tribune, Ahlam Janahi, one of the award winners and President of Bahrain Businesswomen Society, said the award offers a testimony to the Kingdom’s leadership’s support towards women empowerment.

“We, the Bahrain Businesswomen Society, are extremely thankful for the support extended by the leadership; His Majesty, HRH the Premier, HRH the Crown Prince and HRH Princess Sabeeka for boosting the entrepreneurial landscape here: The leadership’s support has helped us to achieve this rare feat. Ms Janahi hailed the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategies for empowering Bahraini women. She also said the award also highlights the strong bilateral ties between Bahrain and India.

Another winner of the award, Khulood Rashid Al Qattan, who is the First Vice-President of Bahrain Businesswomen Society, said: “The award brings recognition on a personal level as well as on the national level.” “The award has made me an ambassador of the business sector as well as Bahraini women. This is a huge responsibility. “We, at society, is keen on supporting women entrepreneurs, financially, logistically and psychologically.”