Plan to set up industrial city areas for Saudi women

In an unprecedented move aimed at opening up new employment opportunities for women, Saudi Arabia drew up a plan to set up industrial city areas where women can carry on various economic activities.

The plan was outlined by the Council of Ministers which recently met |under the chairmanship of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd bin Abdulaziz.

The Manpower Resources Fund was charged with the task of organising training programmes with the aim of opening up employment opportunities for women. The Council of Ministers urged government agencies to set up women's divisions within a year.

In a new directive, the Council called on government agencies to cooperate in establishing a committee which will work in close collaboration with government agencies with the aim of encouraging the private sector to create areas of economic activities where women can be gainfully employed. The directive also called on the nation's business to step up training programmes for women.

Speaking on the new directive, Dr Abdulwahed Alhumaid, secretary-general of the Manpower Council, told Gulf News that at present women constitute only about four per cent of the nation's work force.

On his part, Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Alsahlawi, director-general of the Manpower Resources Development Fund pointed out that areas of economic activities which can be opened up for women include healthcare, education and information technology.

Businesswomen and university graduate welcomed the directive and called for its speedy implementation particularly with the regard to the creation of women's divisions.

They also called for the establishment of women's committee in the chambers of commerce and industry. They emphasised the need for the allocation of land in industrial cities in urban areas for the establishment of industries run by women.

Dr Aisha Almanee, chairperson of women's committee in the chamber of commerce and industry in the Eastern province, and head of the Almanee Hospitals, called for the establishment of a higher council for women which will be attached to the Council of Ministers.

Speaking about the new directive, Huda Aljeraisy, chairperson of the cultural committee of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and a businesswoman, expressed the hope that the new directive would open new opportunities before a large number of women.

Faten Alsuweilim recalled that at one time "I had a plan to establish a clinic but the regulations which were given to me by the Ministry of health made me lose hope."