The Business Women Forum hosted a Networking Dinner Event on March 13, 2010 at the Grand Park Hotel in Ramallah to celebrate International Women’s Day. The event was funded by CIPE and Philistia Foundations- Paltel group. Attendees of this social event included BWF members and among them were some honored guests such as; Ramallah Mayor Ms. Janet Mikhael, Ramallah and Al Bireh Governor Ms. Laila Ghanam, Minister of the Ministry of Higher Education Dr. Lamis Al Alami, Minister of the Ministry or Social Affairs Dr. Majeda Al Masri, General Director of NGOs/Ministry of Interior Dr. Fadwa Al Sha’er, and former minister of the Ministry for Youth and Sports Ms. Tahani Abu Daqa.
BWF Chairwoman Ms. Amal Masri welcomed the guests and assured them of BWF’s role in assisting Palestinian business women with their businesses and developing their skills and abilities as well as the importance of increasing the number of business women in the private sector. MS. Masri also spoke about useful information that BWF will provide to members in helping them improve managing their businesses. She also highlighted BWF’s role on shaping the policies and legislation in order to protect the interest of business women and increase their opportunities for success. BWF provides a network and cooperation between the members and business women locally and internationally.
Doa Wadi, BWF Executive Director, spoke about the achievements of the BWF in the past years in addition to the current programs and projects that BWF is working on. She mentioned the Business Development Center (BDC) and its objectives which relate to women entrepreneurs and offers them services to assist them with establishing their businesses and improving their business and managerial skills.
Ms. Wadi assured that the BWF is networking with associations and establishments and coordinates between them in order to prepare researches and studies about business women’s’ abilities as well as to implement the policies and legislations that contribute to increase the representation of business women in the economy throughout networking with policy makers and Women in decision makers positions.
This was the first yearly meeting for the BWF members which aimed to create a network between members from different areas and specializations, in this event, every woman introduced herself and her business to the audience, and shared business cards, some brought samples of their work which can lead to economic and social development in Palestine; and on the other hand, introduce the ministers and women in decision making position to Business women in Palestine.
