New York: Europe and the Arabs

Sixty women entrepreneurs from around the world were the first to greet visitors at the 21st General Conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Their portraits were prominently displayed on a mural that attracted many visitors today, who came to take photos and learn about these pioneering women in their respective fields, especially given that the third day of the conference was dedicated to discussing women's empowerment in industrial development.

According to a UN News report, Saudi entrepreneur Jamila Al-Shammari stood near her portrait, smiling broadly, and told us, "I am proud of what Saudi women entrepreneurs have achieved and the great leap we have made."

Al-Shammari, who works in designing traditional Saudi fashion, emphasized that her experience with UNIDO was "a starting point, as we connected with the world through the organization," which provided her and her peers from across the region with training and support through the organization's Investment and Technology Promotion Office in the Bahraini capital.

Shaping the Future of Industry

Al-Shammari’s experience exemplifies what the organization can do to support and empower women. This was the focus of the sessions and discussions held on the third day of the conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, highlighting the vital role of women in driving sustainable industrial and economic transformation.

The discussions revealed how leadership, policy, and innovation can combine to create opportunities for women to contribute to and shape the future of industry.

Participants explored global initiatives demonstrating how gender-sensitive industrial approaches, the development of inclusive value chains, and fair labor practices can foster systemic change for a more effective role for women in industrial development.

Empowerment for Prosperity
Hanan Hanzaz, Director of the UNIDO Regional Office for Arab States, emphasized the importance of dedicating a day to women’s empowerment, following yesterday’s focus on partnerships and investment, while tomorrow’s will be dedicated to youth, the future generation. Hanzaz said, “There can be no inclusive and sustainable industrial development without women’s participation; women’s participation in every stage of the industrial production chain, including, for example, the food industry, the textile industry, and others.”

She emphasized that UNIDO’s goal is to see women present at every stage and level of the industrial sector.

She added, “The Arab region is very special because it has some of the highest rates of women in engineering and technology in the world. Therefore, we felt it was important to dedicate a day to empowering women in a sector that is crucial to the global economy and prosperity in general, and to the Arab region in particular.”

A Women-Led Initiative from the Heart of the Challenge
Near the mural highlighting women entrepreneurs, we also met Nora Magero, co-founder and CEO of Drop Access, who received the UNIDO Sustainable Development Award, known as “One World.” Magero received the award in the Women in Manufacturing category. Born in Kenya from personal challenges related to healthcare and access to clean energy, Magero has built, alongside its peers, an organization that provides essential healthcare and climate-smart innovations to the most disadvantaged communities. This stems from a deep understanding of the challenges faced by rural communities, particularly in accessing life-saving vaccines and medicines.

Magero told UN News that her organization has a significant impact on women, adding, "We impact women when we ensure children receive vaccinations and that they receive blood transfusions during childbirth. We also strive to ensure that everything we influence in healthcare ultimately benefits women, because they are the backbone of our society." Young women like Magero will have another opportunity to voice their concerns and present their ideas and initiatives tomorrow, the fourth day of the conference, which focuses on the next generation and concludes on November 27.