Manama: Two Qatari women entrepreneurs have been selected to attend a two-day presidential summit on entrepreneurship to be hosted by US President Barack Obama next week.
The summit, titled A New Beginning: The Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship, will highlight the increasing role of entrepreneurs in addressing common challenges while building partnership that can lead to greater job opportunities.
Shaikha Hanadi Bint Nasser Bin Khaled Al Thani, CEO of Amwal, and Buthaina Hassan Faraj Al Ansari, Chairperson of Qatariyat Holding Company, will attend the summit in Washington on April 26-27.
“Two out of the Qatari entrepreneur population is not a small thing and it shows how much the US values representatives from here,” Joseph LeBaron, the US Ambassador to Qatar, said. “They will be among the 250 people representing some 40 countries from five continents. So this is a recognition for both Qatar and the people here. The Qatari participation will throw a new light upon the growing nation and can help build new business networks in tune with the Qatar Vision 2030” LeBaron was quoted as saying by The Peninsula daily.
“It is a privilege as a woman to represent Qatar. Women entrepreneurs here have challenges in getting the accurate knowledge to build an establishment and so most of them go into replicating what is already present instead of venturing into new areas,” Buthaina said.
Women entrepreneurs also face difficulties to find capital for projects and are at times hesitant to take risk, she said.
“There are also many logistic issues as finding the right manpower and so on. However, the Qatar Businesswomen Forum has been helping women in this regard. I see this as an opportunity to tell the world that women in Qatar are also working mothers or wives. The conference will help to build new networks and in the long run can help to establish international entrepreneur groups,” she said.
