Rosmah: Women entrepreneurs formidable global players

There is an abundance of opportunities that women businesswomen could tap, says the wife of the prime minister.

PUTRAJAYA: Women entrepreneurs could be formidable global players in the 21st century, the prime minister’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, said today.

She said women had the creativity, passion, perseverance and focus in growing their businesses as demanded by the ever-changing and dynamic business landscape.

“The prospect for women in business is very promising,” she said when attending the Malaysia-United Arab Emirates (UAE) Businesswomen Roundtable 2011 networking luncheon at Seri Perdana, here.

Rosmah said women had made tremendous strides in business, but there was still room for improvement to enhance their capacity.

“There is indeed an abundance of opportunities that women entrepreneurs could tap on as well,” she said.

Rosmah urged UAE businesswomen to explore business opportunities that have arisen from the many initiatives undertaken to accelerate economic development in both countries.

“I hope the luncheon today will provide a good opportunity for you to connect and network with the Malaysian business community and government officials.

“Let this be the beginning of many more discussions and meetings to explore new areas of cooperation and collaboration to further strengthen the on-going efforts to enhance business, investment and trade between our two countries,” she said.

Rosmah also urged Malaysia and UAE companies to explore investment opportunities in the fast-growing emerging markets, especially in the Asean region and the Middle East.

“It is my sincere hope that your visit to Malaysia will spur interest in translating these potential opportunities into reality through joint collaboration between Malaysia and UAE corporations,” she said.

Meanwhile, Dubai Businesswomen Council president Raja Al-Gurg urged more women to play an active role in expanding partnership between UAE and Malaysia.

She said the framework agreement on economy, commerce, investment and technical area between Malaysia and the Gulf Cooperation Council, signed in Abu Dhabi last January had shown positive outcome.

“We are now perfectly placed to take our commercial ties to the next level, with the help of our women entrepreneurs,” she said.

Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council president Fatima Obaid Al Jaber said the roundtable tour to Malaysia was a landmark that helped to forge a special bond between the business communities of UAE and Malaysia.

“I believe that our visit (to Malaysia) takes our relationship to new heights.

“We are really impressed with the leading lights of Malaysia’s corporate women. We hope that we can renew links sooner rather than later and forge ahead with our plans,” she said.

Last year, UAE and Malaysia’s bilateral exchange was worth around US$6.41 billion.

- Bernama