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National women can own small, medium projects

ABU DHABI — National women entrepreneurs will be granted, by next month, commercial licences to own small and medium-size projects.

Dr Rawda Al Mutawa, Chairperson of Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council (ADBWC) told Khaleej Times yesterday the move aims to assist national women to join business and contribute to the national economy.

The move also comes as part of a project initiated by ADBWC in 2003 and dubbed as 'Mubdia' or 'Innovator' to beef up contribution of national women in the national economy.

"It is true the project has been delayed for a long period due to many reasons. However, the national strategy devised for the emirate of Abu Dhabi by General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has greatly contributed in crystallising the project and turned it into a concrete reality," said Dr Mutawa.

The strategy has activated the roles various concerned government departments had to play so as to realise the project, she said, adding that those interested should meet the criteria set by ADBWC to grant, in association with other concerned bodies, national entrepreneurs commercial permit. She noted that candidates are just required, among other things, to have skills about the business they wish to set up and adequate knowledge of rules, regulations and mechanisms on which the economy runs.

On the future plans of the council to ensure sound contribution of national women in the economy, the official revealed under a new project sponsored and supported by Lieutenant-General Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior, national women who own taxis will avail of the forthcoming plan to abolish current system of ordinary transportation and set up instead a national transportation company.

"Taxi licences issued since 1985 to national women will be transferred into shares upon the directives of Shaikh Saif to assist these women to have profits from the new proposed company, the capital of which is more than Dh18 million. The transfer is expected to be processed by end of 2006," said Dr Mutawa.

Citing another main upcoming scheme, she said an 'Emiratia ID' card that provides many facilities for national businesswomen in the public and private sectors, was on the anvil. "The new card will allow women to have several privileges like facilitating transactions and procedures required by different federal departments. Besides, members will enjoy promotions and more than 30 per cent discount on purchases and services provided by private sector."