(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Fourth Arab Women Leadership Forum kicks off in Dubai
Shaikh Mohammed; Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai; and Dr Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, being briefed by Dr Mona Al Marri, Chairperson of the Board of the Dubai Women Establishment, at a pavilion of the Art of Competitiveness exhibition being held on the sidelines of the Fourth Arab Women Leadership Forum on Tuesday. - Wam
A gender balanced economy is the key to economic growth and a study has shown that if the rate of male and female participation in the workplace was to equalise, a further 10 per cent GDP would be added to the UAE's economy by 2030.
This was highlighted at the 4th Arab Women Leadership Forum on Tuesday during a panel discussion looking at 'Women In Economy'.
Investing in women has become one of the core strategies in developed and developing countries and they say the most important determinant of any country's competitiveness is the talent, skills and productivity of the workforce. But without equality, economic growth can be stunted.
Arab women in leadership has long been a taboo in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, but with the UAE boasting an adult female literacy rate of more than 90 per cent, women have been pushing this stigma aside by proving their presence in the workplace.
During the opening day of the forum, which was officially opened by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the question as to whether women have a positive effect on the competitiveness of an economy was raised to Professor Yoko Ishikura of Hitotsubashi University in Japan.
"Women account for almost half of the population in most economies, so getting these women active will no doubt increase a nation's competitiveness," she told moderator Lubna Qassim who is the vice-president, group company secretary and general counsel for Emirates NBD Bank.
Ishikura, who sits on the board for three multinational organisations, said involving women in the workforce can increase GDP by 5-10 per cent, especially if they take on roles within leadership.
"Women play a big role because if you empower and educate them, it goes beyond just women in business. If it's just men shaping the identity of a country it will be detrimental in the long-term."
Room to grow
Despite huge backing by Arab country leaders and governments, in some parts of the region outdated labour laws hinder female participation in the workplace with limited opportunities available to them.
Insufficient maternity leave and child-care amenities are examples of this but Dr Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf said perseverance is key.
"Empowering women and enhancing their role in the workplace requires more perseverance. We are making considerable steps towards women empowerment but it is still less than what we aspire to."
Women taking lead in the UAE
The country currently boasts:
> 4 female ministers
> 3 female ambassadors
> 2 high court judges
> 4 military/commercial pilots
Discussing the recent Worldwide Gender Gap Report, Executive Director of Tharawat Family Business Forum and IMD Business School, Dr Hischam El-Agamy, said statistics from the report strengthens the proof that gender discrimination impedes the growth of a nation.
"If men and women were paid the same wage, the US would see a GDP growth of nine per cent, the EuroZone an increase of 13 per cent and Japan 16 per cent."
He added that eliminating all forms of discrimination would increase productivity in the workplace by up to 40 per cent, which is appealing to any business or nation.
"It's not just a matter of changing policies and laws, it's about changing mindsets," he said.
UAE moving forward
Women participation in many economies is less than that of men, and issues of gender pay gaps also come into play. Though it is a fundamental issue to all, the Mena region in particular is looking to close this gap as it boasts the poorest performance in regards to gender gap issues.
"This is unfortunate," Qassim said, but added it was imperative to educate, empower and entrust Arab women in the workplace.
When Khaleej Times asked whether she could see role reversals happening in the UAE where men stay at home and the women go out to work, she remained sceptic.
"Maybe in the future, but not yet. We're too young so it all depends on how fast we grow as an economy but we're a long way off yet."
The 4th Arab Women Leadership Forum is being organised by the Dubai Women Establishment (DWE) and concludes today.
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