CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PUTS A SMALL SPOTLIGHT ON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 000427

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DRL/NESCA, NEA/PI, NEA/ARP: ANDREW MACDONALD
USTR FOR JASON BUNTIN
DEPT OF COMMERCE FOR TYLER HOFFMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ELAB PGOV KWMN YM
SUBJECT: CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PUTS A SMALL SPOTLIGHT ON
BUSINESSWOMEN IN YEMEN


1. SUMMARY: The Federation of Yemen Chambers of Commerce and
Industry has established a women,s unit on the heels of the
first-ever national businesswomen,s conference. The
women,s unit and the Yemen Business Women,s Council are
initiating efforts to integrate women into the often
male-dominated business environment. The inclusion of
women-run small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is a small step
towards greater gender equality and integration in this
limited but otherwise untapped sector of Yemen,s economy.
END SUMMARY.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ESTABLISHES NEW WOMEN,S
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2. The Federation of Yemen Chambers of Commerce and Industry
has launched a women,s unit, which will focus on issues
facing women in business. Mohammad Al-Maitami, the General
Director of the Federation, told Econoff on February 23 that
this is an effort to include both businesswomen and small and
medium enterprises (SMEs),which typically struggle to have a
voice in the Yemeni business scene. Currently, an estimated
500 businesswomen are registered out of the 70,000-80,000
members of the Federation. Specifically, the Federation
would like to encourage women to register, participate, and
be represented in the Chamber of Commerce. (Note: In June
2008, 38,000 members participated in elections. End note.)
The Federation plans to provide space for collaboration,
research, and workshops as well as an advisory service on
business and legal issues.


3. The establishment of the women,s unit comes on the heels
of the first national businesswomen,s conference on January
26 in Sanaa, organized by the Federation, the Ministry of
Industry and Trade (MOIT),and the German Agency for
Technical Cooperation (GTZ). The conference, which was
themed, &towards the integration of Yemeni businesswomen in
development and investment,8 brought together over 150
participants (including 100 businesswomen) from the public,
private, and non-profit sectors. Dr. Najt Jumaaan,
businesswoman and conference organizer, told Econoff on
February 23 that the conference aimed to promote
businesswomen and their contribution to economic development.



4. The Federation is comprised of small and medium
enterprises (SMEs),which make up 98% of industry in Yemen,
according to al-Maitami. The Federation serves as an
umbrella organization for 22 other chambers of commerce and
close to 100,000 members. Al-Maitami said that although
70,000-80,000 businessmen (and women) are registered in
Yemeni chambers of commerce, an additional 100,000 are not
represented. The formation of the women,s unit is part of a
larger initiative to get more people involved in the
Federation. The informal business sector, which is not
reported to the government, represents 30% of GDP.

YEMEN BUSINESS WOMEN,S COUNCIL, FIRST BUSINESSWOMEN,s NGO
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5. The Federation,s women,s unit is a welcome addition to
the businesswomen,s scene, which includes only one other
NGO, the Yemen Business Women,s Council. Dr. Fawzia Nasher,
Chairman of the Council, told Econoff on February 16 that the
Council, founded in 2005, was the first organization to deal
with Yemeni businesswomen,s issues. Officially inaugurated
by the Prime Minister,s office in 2006, the Council focuses
on providing support to women-run SMEs via regular meetings,
workshops, and assistance with marketing. Nasher told
Econoff that all members of the Council also have membership
in the Chamber of Commerce and many have membership in the
Arab Women,s Investors Union. According to Nasher, the
Council has attempted to raise its profile by attending
regional conferences.

BUT HOW CAN WE ACCEPT SAEEDA?
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6. The Council, like the women,s unit at the Federation, is
faced with the challenge of providing support to
businesswomen operating in a man,s world. Nasher said that
banks do not like to guarantee loans for women and that the
ROYG prefers to issue tenders to men. Although the Council's
activities are limited to intangible, non-financial support,
it would like to provide loans in the future. Still, the
Council is plagued by issues such as a lack of funding and a

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shortage of space, and Nasher admitted that members working
out her office have received no support from the ROYG since
the initial inauguration. According to Fawzia, governments
in countries like Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE do a
better job of supporting similar businesswomen,s councils.

COMMENT
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7. Businesswomen and the SMEs in which they work are a small
but emerging part of Yemen,s economy. Yemeni businesswomen
often work from home and outside traditional business venues.
While their numbers are small, the inclusion of
businesswomen in the economy has the potential to make a
larger impact on gender equality and economic development in
Yemen over time. END COMMENT.
SECHE