Manama: Bahrain Business and Professional Women International Federation (BPW) announced that Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development of the UAE, will be a keynote speaker in the opening ceremony of The 63rd World Congress of Femmes Chefs d’Entreprises Mondiales (FCEM).
Held under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), the event will take place in the Kingdom of Bahrain between 23-26 March 2015.
Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi joined the Federal Government in 2004 as Minister of Economy, becoming the first woman to assume a cabinet position in the UAE. She was later appointed in 2008 as Minister of Foreign Trade, and then in 2013 as Minister of International Cooperation and Development, with the responsibility of boosting the UAE’s role as a major donor and key player in global human development. During her two previous posts, the country enjoyed its most economically prosperous period and highest volumes of foreign trade.
“I am delighted to take in this event and look forward to using this opportunity to highlight to a global audience of women business leaders who will be attending the economic achievements of the Arab women and their contributions to the economy, as well as the growing role that Arabic investments play on the international stage,” Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi said.
“We are honored to have Shaikha Lubna Al Qassimi as a keynote speaker of the event. She is a great example of female leaders in the UAE and broader region, and an inspiration to many women due to her vast support for women’s empowerment in the region. She is also a knowledgeable speaker on women’s affairs, e-commerce and technology. Her presence will set the tone for this high level gathering of women business leaders from around the world and help to showcase the economic strength and accomplishments of women from the Middle East region,” Shaikha Hind Bint Salman Al Khalifa, President of BPW Bahrain, added.
Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi has been honored by several countries for her role in enhancing their relations with the UAE. Furthermore, in 2013 Forbes Magazine recognized her as the most powerful Arab woman and the world’s 67th most powerful women. In 2014 Forbes Middle East Magazine recognized her as the most powerful woman among 200 Arab woman, and she was #55 internationally. She obtained a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science from California State University of Chico (CSUChico) in 1981 and an Executive MBA from the American University of Sharjah in 2002. She also has an Honorary Doctorate in Science from California State University at Chico (US), an Honorary Doctorate in Law from the University of Exeter (UK) and an Honorary Doctorate in Economics from the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (Korea).
It was also recently announced that congress will feature a series of special B2B events which will serve as a platform to encourage networking among attendees and for the creation of new business partnerships across borders and sectors. Women taking part are some of the most successful entrepreneurs from the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Africa and North America.
Joining BPW Bahrain in the organization of the event is the Council of Arab Business Women (CABW) headed by Her Highness Shaikha Hissah Bint Saad AbdualAllah Salem Al -Sabah of Kuwait, the FCEM Ambassadress for the Arab World. Support is also being extended by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) and Tamkeen as strategic partners.