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 -------------- ¶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 -------------- -------------- ¶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? -------------- ¶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 SANAA 00000427 002.2 OF 002 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 -------------- ¶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