U.A.E., FAO hold Stakeholders’ Consultation "Fostering Women’s Entrepreneurship in the Agro-Food Sector" project

ABU DHABI (WAM): A joint U.A.E.-FAO Stakeholders’ Consultation was held yesterday at the General Women’s Union (GWU) premises to discuss methods of fostering women's entrepreneurship in agro-food industries in the U.A.E. Organisers say as the U.A.E. intends to establish a new benchmark for gender empowerment in the region, the agro-food sector possesses untapped potential for agriculture and agro-food system business entrepreneurship to develop value additions through agro-food chain. The project "Fostering Women’s Entrepreneurship in the Agro-Food Sector", implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in cooperation with the General Women’s Union, introduced interested women to enterprise development in agriculture. The GWU has been aiming at initiating the identification of possible women entrepreneurs in the agro-food sector. The consultation aimed at presenting the results of the project and sought the contribution of the participants to share their views on follow-up needs for extensive capacity development. The meeting also reviewed past and present initiatives in agro-food sector in the U.A.E. and explored possible entry points to strengthen women entrepreneurship in the sector and the best possible form of capacity development should take. So far, nine training workshops have been conducted across the Emirates to introduce women to enterprise development and value addition in agriculture and also to raise their awareness on related business potentials.. Addressing the meeting, Noura Al Suwaidi, Secretary General of the GWU, said the U.A.E. women had in a short span of time surpassed socio-economic development standard growth rates. ''The U.A.E. women today are achieving gains after gains alongside their male partners, defying the impossible and harnessing science to serve their nation,'' she said, adding that H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the General Women's Union (GWU), and of the Family Development Foundation, stands as a torch that lights up the path of Emirati women and remains a great supporter and advocate for them. Al Suwaid in her address, read on her behalf by Dr. Mohammed Al Mansour, the GWU Advisor, lauded that U.A.E.-FAO's '' Fostering Women’s Entrepreneurship in the Agro-Food Sector'' project as pioneering and unique experiment. She stated that the agro-food sector is one of vital sectors for providing investment and job opportunities for women under the friendly business legislation and framework and easy access to finance by national investors. Building capacity of U.A.E. nationals, and particularly women, tops the list of the GWU's priorities, she said, indicating that the GWU had drawn in partnership with the FAO a sustainable programme to attract women interesting to launch micro-investment business and small and medium enterprises (SME) in agro-food sector. Dr. Rania Al Suwaiti, SME and Entrepreneurship Advisor, FAO, said the concluding session of the capacity building programme presented the lessons learnt and preliminary conclusions of the web research and training workshops in the U.A.E. and introduced the relevant stakeholders to the key areas of the programme where stakeholder input is crucial.. Stakeholders, she added, had given their input and suggestions in key areas of the programme and the groundwork of stakeholder ownership. Through its constructive partnership with FAO, she added the GWU had played a significant role in the success of the project a success through its efforts in regulating and funding the project. – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395270346313.html