SBWC Signs Mou with International Trade Centre

The Sharjah Business Women Council, SBWC, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Trade Centre, ITC, the joint agency of the World Trade Organisation and the United Nations, with the aim of providing a framework for cooperation to encourage collaboration and to facilitate joint activities in areas of mutual interest, particularly in the development of programmes which are related to the business of fashion and traditional crafts produced by artisans as a sustainable source of income.

The MoU was signed at the Executive Office of the Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, H.H. Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, by Ameera Binkaram, Chairperson of the Sharjah Business Women Council, and Arancha Gonzalez, Executive Director of the International Trade Centre.

Under the terms of the MoU, SBWC and ITC have agreed to collaborate mutually in the development of all phases of the SBWC umbrella, IRTHI, as well as its recently launched pilot project, ‘Bidwa’, with specific focus on the development and implementation innovative business models and structures, customised training approaches and methodologies, and sustainable market linkages.

Ameera Binkaram commented on the agreement, stating, "The creation of IRTHI and the launch of Bidwa herald yet another major step forward in SBWC’s continued efforts to support the economic development of the women of Sharjah and the UAE. We are extremely pleased to have gained the support of the International Trade Centre, whose unrivalled experience and expertise in fostering sustainable economic development across the globe will add significantly to ensuring the success of these undertakings." Arancha Gonzalez said, "Providing women with decent jobs improves education for children, the well being of families, but most importantly it gives women dignity.

I look forward to working closely with SBWC to provide Arab women with solutions that will enable them to structure and grow their business to take better advantage of the opportunities offered by the world market." Established by SBWC, IRTHI is platform created to bring together organisations and individuals committed to adopting ethical practices in the MENASEA region and cater to the demand for lifestyle goods in both the local and global markets.

Bidwa aims to preserve traditional crafts by passing them to new generations and creating modern high quality products with mass market appeal, with the ultimate vision of generating a sustainable source of income for the women, thus achieving economic empowerment, which will lead to social stability, security and dignified independency.

The joint agency of the World Trade Organisation and the United Nations, the aim of the International Trade Centre is for businesses in developing countries to become more competitive in global markets, speeding economic development and contributing to the achievement of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals.

The SBWC aims to encourage women’s contribution in the development process in the UAE in general and Sharjah in particular. The SBWC offers Businesswomen, professionals, productive women, students and alumnae and women with special needs wider fields to develop their personal skills, opportunities for more creativity and improvement of performance in their professional and business endeavors. Moreover the Council contributes in developing women-owned businesses through guidelines by economic and finance experts.