SAUDI-ARABIA-PRODUCERS EXHIBITION Riyadh exhibition encourages women entrepreneurs

Record ID: 189560

  • Title: SAUDI-ARABIA-PRODUCERS EXHIBITION Riyadh exhibition encourages women entrepreneurs
  • Date: 28th December 2014
  • Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (DECEMBER 25, 2014) (REUTERS) SAUDI WOMEN TAKING PHOTO FOR PRINCE OF RIYADH DURING THE OPENING OF PRODUCERS EXHIBITION PRINCE TURKI BIN ABDULLAH, PRINCE OF RIYADH, AT PRODUCERS EXHIBITION LCD SCREEN SHOWING LOGO OF THE EXHIBITION VARIOUS OF PEOPLE VISITING THE EXHIBITION VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS SHOWING THEIR PRODUCTS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ORGANISER, HIND AL MOA'AMAR, SAYING: "The scale of women's investment in Saudi Arabia reached more than 8 billion riyal (2.13 billion US dollars). The investments from home constitutes a portion of this number. By this exhibition, we aim to support this field in order to increase the rate of investments by women in Saudi Arabia." PANTING OF SAUDI WOMAN (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ORGANISER, HIND AL MOA'AMAR, SAYING: "More than 50% of the participants are university students and graduates, which means that there are a big trend towards small and medium project. Through this exhibition, we support these investors and these projects to enter the market and the labour market." DRESS DESIGNED BY SAUDI DESIGNER ON DISPLAY VARIOUS OF SAUDI DESIGNER SHOWING HER PRODUCTS FOR CUSTOMER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAUDI DESIGNER, ALA'A HAMAD, SAYING: "Thank God, the Saudi society's perception has changed and that opened opportunities for women. You can see women's achievements and creativity here. Every woman has realised her potential and achieved financial gains. Our ambition is always higher and God willing you will see big exhibitions that Saudi women started participating in." BANNER READING (Arabic): "SUCCESS IS UNDERSTANDING YOURSELF" VARIOUS OF EXHIBITION BANNER READING (Arabic): "ACCESSORIES" VARIOUS OF SAUDI JEWELLERY DESIGNER, RANYAH SERAJ, TALKING TO A CUSTOMER ABOUT HER PRODUCTS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) JEWELLERY DESIGNER, RANYAH SERAJ, SAYING: "I design for Saudi young women who want to be unique and do not want others to wear anything similar so every design is distinctive. These are simple beginnings, I consider myself an investor working from home. We are now taking the steps to apply for financial support to take off internationally." LOGO OF PRODUCERS EXHIBITION (SOUNBITE) (Arabic) MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTOR OF RIYADH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, MANSOUR AL-SHATHRY, SAYING: "We in the chamber of commerce have organised exhibitions for them. We hold regular training sessions for these young women to market their products and raise the quality of their products. Also, we have created montijon (exhibition) website, specifically dedicated for online shopping." VISITORS AND PARTICIPANTS AT THE EXHIBITION
  • Embargoed: 12th January 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA3UYO8OMUGJ1R9E0MDVG1MPYB1
  • Story Text: A five-day exhibition aiming to support Saudi women entrepreneurs opened in Riyadh this week.
    More than 300 women took part in the show, organisers said. Among them were designers, chocolate-makers, photographers and beauticians.
    One of the organisers, Hind Al Moa'amar, said Saudi women were playing an increasingly greater role in the country's economy.
    "The scale of women's investment in Saudi Arabia reached more than 8 billion riyal (2.13 billion US dollars). The investments from home constitutes a portion of this number. By this exhibition, we aim to support this field in order to increase the rate of women investments in Saudi Arabia," Moa'amar said.
    Almost half the participants are students or graduates, Moa'amar said.
    "More than 50% of the participants are university students and graduates, which means that there is a big trend towards small and medium projects. Through this exhibition, we support these investors and these projects to enter the market and the labour market," she said.
    One such fresh graduate who took part in the event is fashion designer Ala'a Hamad. She said Saudi women now enjoyed more opportunities despite facing several personal and social restrictions.
    "The Saudi society's perception has changed and that opened opportunities for women. You can see women achievements and creativity here," Hamad said.
    Jewellery designer Ranyah Seraj too recently started her small business.
    "I design for Saudi young women who want to be unique and do not want others to wear anything similar so every design is distinctive," she said.
    But she has big plans for her business.
    "These are simple beginnings, I consider myself an investor working from home. We are now taking the steps to apply for financial support to take off internationally," she said.
    The exhibition was organised by the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce, which also holds regular training workshops for women entrepreneurs.
    "We have created Montijon (exhibition) website, specifically dedicated for online shopping," said Mansour al-Shathry, member of the board of director of Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
    The exhibition continues till Tuesday (December 30).
    Saudi women traditionally play little role in business and need permission from a male "guardian" to get a job.
    Women are banned from driving and need the permission of a close male relative to work, travel and even have certain kinds of surgery.
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