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Abu Dhabi: Investments by businesswomen in the UAE have topped Dh12 billion but obstacles in the way of their future prosperity must be removed, Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak told an investor seminar yesterday. "The UAE Businesswomen's Council has over 10,000 members who have investments exceeding Dh12 billion," Shaikha Fatima told the inaugural Arab Businesswomen's Invest ors Forum. "We look forward to the outcome of this forum and hope it is in line with the dreams of Arab businesswomen and that all obstacles are removed to help them advance and achieve their goals." Salah Salem Bin Omeir Al Shamsi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, urged businesswomen to invest in Abu Dhabi where there are investment opportunities in projects worth more than Dh500 billion in the next five years.
"There are huge opportunities in Abu Dhabi for investments in various sectors and businesswomen should take advantage of opportunities. Abu Dhabi is becoming a model for attracting investments," he said. "The Abu Dhabi Chamber has women on its board and there are women ministers in the UAE. We are keen to create the right atmosphere to attract women to invest in different businesses." He said a proposal is being considered for an Arab Women's Investment Fund but did not elaborate. Dr Hoda Gallal Yassa, chair of the Cairo-based Arab Women Investors Union which currently has 16 members representing Arab countries, urged businesswomen to take initiatives on their own to invest in businesses. "We have no time to wait for the government to provide us all the guidance; we need to act fast and set up businesses," she said. The union is creating two companies, one for trading and the other in the tourism sector. "Both companies will be Egypt based but the investments and the management would be by women. This is one of our first initiatives to encourage investments," she told Gulf News. "There are some other plans we are working on," she added.
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