Doha – April 30th, 2019 Today Aisha Alfardan, Vice Chairwoman of the Qatari Businesswomen Association (QBWA) and Dr. Gabi Kratochwil, Chairwoman of the German-Arab Women Business Leaders’ Summit (GAWBL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding. This MoU is a sign of their longstanding and excellent partnership to further strengthen Qatari-German business relations with a special focus on empowering and connecting women in both countries.
Since 2011 Aisha Alfardan and Dr. Gabi Kratochwil have been united by the common goal of fostering an environment for successful women leaders to boost business and create new links for innovation and collaboration that lie at the very heart of their shared mission. One expression of this cooperation was the respective participation in the Qatar International Business Women Forum as well as the German-Arab Women Business Leader’s Summit 2018 in Munich, where the high-ranking delegation of Qatari businesswomen was chaired by Aisha Alfardan. A special highlight of the GAWBL-Summit was the exhibition “Gravity” by the internationally renowned Qatari artist Amal Al Aathem.
The first joint project will be the “Young Women Program” Study Tour, a unique and tailor made landmark project that will allow young women from Qatar to explore Germany’s high end business and educational landscape, to learn from each other, grow together and strengthen the joint vision to create a better future. It will set the benchmark for impactful exchange by capacity building and training, self-development, sharing best practices, mutual learning about sustainable human development that will empower young women, through partnership, increased connectivity, innovation and collaboration.
Aisha Alfardan – commented, “This special project is part of a bigger plan that QBWA has developed to work with young women in Qatar; we are keen to work with young female leaders, incorporate their ideas, and create different opportunities for them to grow and reach their full potential”
This showcase project is implemented in close cooperation with Embassy of Qatar to Germany, German Embassy in Doha and the German Federal Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
Commenting on this HE Sheikh Saoud Al Thani, Ambassador of Qatar to Germany said: “Signing the MOU between QBWA and GAWBL is a step forward to enhance the mutual Qatari-German relations and the empowerment of women in both countries”
German Ambassador to Qatar, H.E. Hans-Udo Muzel, underlining Germany’s full support and special commitment to this initiative said: “Qatar is the benchmark for progressive society development in the Arab world, especially when it comes to empowering future female leaders through education, training and active participation in the nation’s economic development.” His spouse Lilian, honorary member of QBWA, added: “Germany is proud to contribute in this context to Qatar‘s Vision 2030 Master plan with this new bilateral cooperation project, which will create a unique cross-cultural forum for future female entrepreneurs in Qatar and Germany, forging new alliances and cooperation.”
Dr. Gabi Kratochwil added:
“Paving the way together for the next generation of young, talented and successful women is a strategic economic imperative. The signing of the MoU is another expression of our excellent and longstanding cooperation and will further strengthen Qatari-German business relations. We share the same vision. We strongly believe in the power of scaling up women in business through partnership and exchange.”
