Event: Supporting women’s financial inclusion at Dubai Expo 2020
Session at Dubai Expo explores solutions to reduce and eliminate the financing gap experienced by women in developing countries.
The International Trade Centre (ITC) and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) are hosting a joint event to explore possible solutions for closing the gender gap that hinders women from benefiting of economic opportunities. Celebrating International Women’s Day, the high profile panel will discuss the financing gap experienced by women, identify the constraints and solutions to overcome existing barriers to ease women’s access to capital, and explore some of the latest initiatives and their impact on access to finance.
Ultimately, the participants will explore possible solutions to support women in growing their businesses and thus, in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Event details
Monday, 7 March 2022,12:00 –13:00 (United Arab Emirates GMT+4)
UN Hub – Opportunity Pavilion
Register here to join online: http://bit.ly/3BNTwvO
Speakers
- Pamela Coke-Hamilton, ASG & Executive Director, ITC (virtual)
- Hani Sonbol, CEO International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (virtual)
- Sidi Ould Tah, Director General, Banque Arabe pour le Développement Economique de l’Afrique (virtual)
- Iva Hamel, World Bank Resident Representative to the UAE, Gender Lead for the MENA and Senior Private Sector Specialist
- Douja Gharbi, CEO, Red Start (Angel investor), Tunisia (virtual)
Background
Access to finance is one of the main concerns of women entrepreneurs. Most women entrepreneurs meet their capital needs through private sources, such as personal savings, family and friends. This financing gap is due to numerous factors such as: high-interest rates, lack of collateral guarantees, lack of business track-record, and the complexity of processes set up by the financing institution.
Closing the gender gap and supporting women’s financial inclusion could facilitate new business opportunities for women and other vulnerable groups, increase social inclusion, reduce inequality, and accelerate achieving the Sustainable Development Goals with balanced development and inclusive growth.
