4m Saudi women ready to join nation's workforce

There are four million Saudi women ready to take up jobs in the Saudi employment market, it was revealed during a forum that concluded in Riyadh yesterday. "About 99.9 per cent of the wealth of Saudi women deposited in banks remain in a virtually frozen state. "Only 42.3 million riyals [Dh41.40 million] out of the total banking assets worth 100 billion riyals have been utilised for investment purposes," delegates at the Sixth Forum for Businesswomen were told. The wife of King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Princess Hissah Bint Trad Al Shaalan, inaugurated the three-day event. The theme of the forum organised by the women's branch of Riyadh's Chamber of Commerce and Industry was ‘Women: Industrial investment, a promising future'. Addressing the forum, leading businesswomen and women investors urged the government to implement the decision of the Council of Ministers to set up industrial projects meant for women, as well as to ensure implementation of infrastructure projects and utility services that would open up more opportunities for them. There are 7,000 businessmen registered at the women's branch of the chamber, observed Princess Haila Bint Abdul Rahman Al Saud, director-general of the branch. Addressing the forum, she spoke at length about the services being extended by the branch to businesswomen. Support system "We extend a wide variety of services such as those pertaining to investment, information and training in addition to consultancy services, organising seminars, forums and lectures, and issuing guidelines and booklets. "The branch is also keen to extend full support to small enterprises and is striving to solve their problems and boost their performance," she said. Alfat Qabbani, deputy chairperson of the industrial committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the female workforce accounts for well over half of the population. "There are four million women capable of taking up jobs in the employment market. But their representation in the industrial sector is only two per cent." Networking opportunity The forum espoused commitment to providing opportunities to businesswomen of all professional levels to network, create business contacts, and develop additional leadership skills in a motivational and supportive environment. The forum also offered stimulating programmes and speakers to educate participants on business and community issues. Muna Geelani, an investor in the industrial field, called for businesswomen to make more investments in the industrial sector, especially in the plastic industries. Customs framework in place The Saudi Customs Department has started preparations to implement a government decision to halt the import of certain electrical products effective November 10. Spokesman of Saudi Customs, Abdullah Al Kharboush, said that imports of electrical appliances that run on 127/220 volts or 220 volts would continue for the next five years since the date of issuing the order. "The imports will be restricted to electrical appliances that run on 230/400 volts after this period. However, parts for electrical appliances of 127 volts will continue to be permitted in the market for 15 years," he added.