ASTANA – A Kazakh delegation of businesswomen to Dubai recently committed to deepening bilateral economic, trade and technological ties between Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the UAE-Kazakhstan Businesswomen Forum.
UAE-Kazakhstan Businesswomen Forum. Photo credit: atameken.kz.
Kazakh Secretary of State Gulshara Abdykalikova and Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs’ Businesswomen Council Chairperson Lyazzat Ramazanova headed the Kazakh delegation of women entrepreneurs.
At the forum, Abdykalikova emphasised the importance of deepening the two countries’ friendly ties, which were established by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and former Abu Dhabi Ruler Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
“We have made significant progress in ensuring equal rights and opportunities in the economy [of Kazakhstan],” she said. “At the end of 2018, according to the World Economic Forum, Kazakhstan ranks 32nd in terms of women’s economic participation and opportunities. We also need to pursue economic, commercial, technological and business community collaboration, with a focus on digitisation.”
Ramazanova said the experiences of businesswomen in the UAE as valuable to Kazakh businesswomen and hopes a new partnership format will foster such exchanges.
“Time dictates the need to deepen cooperation in the development of women’s entrepreneurship,” she said. “It is possible that, in the future, 50 percent of the UAE Parliament will be represented by women.”
A memorandum of cooperation between Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs’ Businesswomen Council and the UAE Businesswomen Council was signed during the forum. Under the memorandum, the parties will develop projects to promote business cooperation, mutual investment and joint ventures. Measures to improve the two countries’ business climates will include streamlining legal and administrative conditions and conducting analytical studies to identify trade and economic barriers.
During their UAE visit, the Kazakh delegation also met with UAE General Women’s Union Chairperson Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak to discuss cooperation among the two countries’ business communities, state family policy, motherhood and women’s economic empowerment. In addition, they met with the Federation of the UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry Chairman Mohammed Thani Murshed Ghanem Al Rumaithi to discuss trade, food security and investment between the two countries and with UN Women in Abu Dhabi Director Moza Al Shehhi to discuss improving the status of women, developing women’s entrepreneurship and promoting gender equality.
