29 August 2016
DOHA: The increasing support of the government towards educational and economic empowerment of women and their leadership has led to a rise in the participation of female labour force in Qatar with the highest female labor force participation rate (59 percent) among all the GCC member states according to a latest report on GCC women's economic power.
As a result of growing interest of women in attaining higher academic qualification, the educational degrees of working women in the country is higher than their male counterparts. However, the upper management positions are generally occupied by men, especially in the private sector, noted the report titled 'GCC Women--Entrepreneurs in New Economy' published by Al Masha Capital, a Dubai-based leading alternative investment management and advisory firm.
The establishment of the 'Qatari Business Women Forum' by the government was a very positive initiative to encourage women's leadership in the private sector. Although, the prevailing social concepts influence their occupational choices, the range of suitable jobs for women has been broadened by a small percentage of women who work as doctors, lawyers and police officers.
The pivotal role of women entrepreneurship for economic growth and development is widely being recognised and encouraged by all GCC governments, including Qatar, which is evidenced by the highest ever rates of entrepreneurial and business activity by regional women.
The small and mid-sized enterprises (SME's) led by women manage assets in the GCC worth $385bn, and are at the forefront of the economic transformation of the region backed by increased literacy and educational opportunities, slowly changing cultural attitudes, and government policies aimed at reducing dependence on foreign labor. Furthermore, availability of diverse employment opportunities, technological advances and information democratisation is inspiring several women to start their own businesses.
According to the report, women entrepreneurs in the region increased from 4 percent to 10 percent in the period 2011-14, significantly narrowing the gender gap in entrepreneurial intentions.
This has spurred regional governments to collaborate with non-governmental bodies to identify and develop programmes to support women entrepreneurial intentions and activities. The report states that women in the GCC are fast approaching gender equality in business start-up intentions, possibly resulting in greater parity in the next wave of entrepreneurship in the region.
However, this calls for increased formal entrepreneurial education and training to bring their ideas to fruition and successfully own and manage established businesses. Although the success rate stands at 40 percent, this number is rapidly rising.
DOHA: The increasing support of the government towards educational and economic empowerment of women and their leadership has led to a rise in the participation of female labour force in Qatar with the highest female labor force participation rate (59 percent) among all the GCC member states according to a latest report on GCC women's economic power.
As a result of growing interest of women in attaining higher academic qualification, the educational degrees of working women in the country is higher than their male counterparts. However, the upper management positions are generally occupied by men, especially in the private sector, noted the report titled 'GCC Women--Entrepreneurs in New Economy' published by Al Masha Capital, a Dubai-based leading alternative investment management and advisory firm.
The establishment of the 'Qatari Business Women Forum' by the government was a very positive initiative to encourage women's leadership in the private sector. Although, the prevailing social concepts influence their occupational choices, the range of suitable jobs for women has been broadened by a small percentage of women who work as doctors, lawyers and police officers.
The pivotal role of women entrepreneurship for economic growth and development is widely being recognised and encouraged by all GCC governments, including Qatar, which is evidenced by the highest ever rates of entrepreneurial and business activity by regional women.
The small and mid-sized enterprises (SME's) led by women manage assets in the GCC worth $385bn, and are at the forefront of the economic transformation of the region backed by increased literacy and educational opportunities, slowly changing cultural attitudes, and government policies aimed at reducing dependence on foreign labor. Furthermore, availability of diverse employment opportunities, technological advances and information democratisation is inspiring several women to start their own businesses.
According to the report, women entrepreneurs in the region increased from 4 percent to 10 percent in the period 2011-14, significantly narrowing the gender gap in entrepreneurial intentions.
This has spurred regional governments to collaborate with non-governmental bodies to identify and develop programmes to support women entrepreneurial intentions and activities. The report states that women in the GCC are fast approaching gender equality in business start-up intentions, possibly resulting in greater parity in the next wave of entrepreneurship in the region.
However, this calls for increased formal entrepreneurial education and training to bring their ideas to fruition and successfully own and manage established businesses. Although the success rate stands at 40 percent, this number is rapidly rising.
© The Peninsula 2016
