Manama : Under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Consort of His Majesty the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), the Kingdom hosted the 18th edition of the International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge (IWEC) Annual Conference, organised by the IWEC Foundation in cooperation with the Investment and Technology Promotion Office of the United Nations Industrial Development Organizsation (UNIDO) in Bahrain, and the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI).
Sameer Nass, Chairman of the BCCI, expressed pride in hosting this global event, which celebrates the achievements of Bahraini women in the economic field locally and internationally, commending the support of HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim for Bahraini women and her advanced vision in all domains.
Nass noted that the IWEC forum has become a global platform to promote best practices in leadership, creativity, innovation, and sustainability, emphasising the Chamber’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with UNIDO to support the private sector in Bahrain, the region, and globally, and to adopt related best practices.
Gerd Müller, Director General of UNIDO, highlighted the leadership and guidance of HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim in promoting Bahraini women’s entrepreneurship, noting its positive impact on families, communities, and various sectors beyond business. He commended Bahraini women entrepreneurs as active contributors to the prosperity of their society and thanked the Kingdom for its support of UNIDO, describing Bahrain as a strong partner with whom more can be achieved.
Müller further noted that the conference is an important platform for addressing developments in the business sector, including digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and changing business environments, stressing the need for global efforts to enhance competitiveness, gender balance, and education. He emphasised the importance of women’s capacity building through collective engagement.
IIbukun Awosika, Chairperson of IWEC, said that Bahraini women are productive and pioneering, providing a distinguished example of Arab women overall, highlighting the importance of promoting Bahrain’s pioneering model in entrepreneurship regionally and globally. She also noted the role of such conferences as global platforms that bring together leaders and innovators to celebrate the achievements of women entrepreneurs and reaffirm their vital role in driving sustainable economic growth.
The winners of the IWEC Women Entrepreneurs Challenge Awards were announced during the conference. First prize was awarded to Dr. Shaikha Mai bint Sulaiman Al Otaibi, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Bahrain Bayan School and founder of +973 Artisanat. Second prize was awarded to Hala Farooq Al Moayyad, Vice Chairperson of Al Moayyad International Group. Third prize was awarded to Deema Al Haddad, Vice Chairperson of Al Haddad Motors, and Vicky Maad, Second Vice Chairperson and Chairperson of the Communications Committee at the Women Entrepreneurs Association.
The IWEC conference reflects Bahrain’s leading position in supporting initiatives aimed at economically empowering women, providing international platforms for knowledge exchange, partnership building, and opening new opportunities for women entrepreneurs. IWEC is one of the most prominent global events for women’s entrepreneurship, bringing together leaders, decision-makers, and entrepreneurs, and serving as an effective platform to enhance international cooperation and highlight success stories and inspiring models in entrepreneurship.
