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Qatar Today Editorials - Lady on Board
“There are an estimated 3,600 Qatari businesswomen but only a thousand of them are active. Women account for a scanty 3.4 per cent of citizens active in trade and industry in the country.”
By Sindhu Nair
In the Arab world, women’s empowerment has found an increasing number of champions. With the exception of Saudi Arabia, every GCC state has at least one female minister. Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE have made groundbreaking progress on this front, with the new UAE federal cabinet appointing two women to ministerial levels.
World Economic Forum 2005’s analysts have stressed the importance of encouraging and facilitating women’s participation in economic and political life, as it will not only benefit Arab societies in their entirety, but also bolster their ability to face economic and political realities that pose challenges to the region.
So, it was only natural for the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which was a male-dominated business nerve centre, to allow women to contest for a place on its board.
Ibthehaj Al Ahmadani, an active member of the Qatar Businesswomen Forum (QBF) serving as its Secretary General, has been an active member of QCCI for years. And then when the opportunity offered itself, she decided to participate in the elections. Emerging victorious, Ahmadani said that her mission would be to enhance the role of women in the society and in the business world.
Acumen begins at home, too “I work in the family owned enterprise, the Ahmadani Group, headed by my father. My sisters and brothers handle various sections of the business and we all work together. Along with on of my sister I also own a medical services and supply unit here,” says Ahmadani.
“We have different jobs, but we always help and support each other,” she says of her family, which has encouraged her active involvement in the business from a very young age.
“Even when I was young, my father would debate economic and business issues with me. We used to talk about various new concepts for improving our business; and even family matters where discussed intensely. He was the one who guided me to take up a degree in Business Administration from UK.
“I also did my masters in BA and am currently doing my PhD in the same field. I am in charge of Finance and Administration of our company,” she said. Ahmadani first worked for the Qatari government before joining her family business.
“Working with the government was a sort of orientation programme for me. It made me aware of my surroundings, the economy of the country, the trends and the regulations which was useful for me in the long run,” she said.
Extremely proud of the achievements of her compatriots, she says, “Qatari women are active in all segments, be it finance, business, economy, education or even real estate, you will find women in all these areas. All this is possible by the stand taken by the Emir HH Sheikh Hamad Khalifa Al Thani. He believes that women should actively participate in the growth of the country. Sheikha Mozah has also called for an active role of women in all parts of social life. It is easier now in Qatar for women to have a job and run their own business.
“There are an estimated 3,600 Qatari businesswomen but only a thousand of them are active. Women account for a scanty 3.4 per cent of citizens active in trade and industry in the country.” The percentage grows even starker, when you weigh it against the large number of women who graduate from university, which mean most qualified women are not economically productive.
On her role in QCCI, she says “As a board member, my main aim is to encourage participation of woman in the economy. As Qatar is also a member of the WTO, we need to prepare for the free market, which will open up several new vistas of opportunities. And women should tap into it. We cannot afford to have any form of gender disparity.”
An evolving Board
The Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry is one of the oldest chambers of Commerce in the GCC. Established in 1963, it used to operate within the structure of Government agencies until the promulgation of a statute in 1990 which empowered the Chamber to operate independently. This enabled the Chamber to exercise a wide range of activities commensurate with national, regional and international developments and serve the commercial, industrial and agricultural interests of its participants in the private sector.
“The new board is very strong; the Chairman has vested powers in each member to handle their areas independently. I can foresee an elevated participation of the Chamber to positively contribute to the Qatari economy. QCCI has committees to handle different sectors like banking, tourism, trading. It is the connecting force between the private and the public sector of business in Qatar. It represents the business community of Qatar inside and outside the country.
“Every business in Qatar has to be a member of the Chamber and we help in the setting up of new business by explaining the rules and regulations. The forum provides them with legal and business counseling, establishes relations with other business forums worldwide and facilitates their relations with the local business community.”Ahmadani handles the Businesswomen Forum and the Industrial sector of the Chamber.
As for any discrimination during the elections, she says she has faced nothing of that sort in the Chamber.“All of them supported me. Probably because I am good in whatever I do, so there were no issues for them to complain about! Though there was fierce competition between them, they were united in their support for me,” she said.
Strength from family
Unlike in the West, where women’s movement draws strength from legislations, here it draws strength from the family and society.
“Everyday, there are so many things – big and small – that inspire you. Small incidents that make you reflect. My stimulating force is my family. Their support, their encouragement inspires me to do better. A Qatari woman also gets so much support that it makes you want to give back something to the community and do better in our areas of interest,” she says.
On balancing work and home, she says, “A women who handles her home proficiently, handles her work equally well. The home reflects your efficiency at work too. If you set priorities and organise your work, you will be successful. This goes for men as well. Setting priorities is very important. For a woman, her family is the first priority – keeping them happy; she should then continue with her various other duties. A woman can handle pressure and accomplish multiple roles and live through each proficiently.”
On the toughest moments of her life, she asks, ‘Who doesn’t face adversities in life’. “While starting off on a career, everyone goes through difficulties. It is how one faces adversities and gets on with life that sets them apart. You should continue with whatever you are doing instead of stepping back or giving in. These are experiences that shape our lives.
“I was studying in the American University for my Bachelors degree at London when I had my kids. My husband was a diplomat working there.” When asked whether this was a difficult period in her life, she says “I don’t see them as difficulties. I love challenges in my everyday life. I don’t see the process; I love to see the end, to finish the problem at hand.”
On children and how they are affected by the role she plays in the business world, she says, “We are very open in our house. My husband is a diplomat and he too talks about his work. We have discussions, we discuss our daily work patterns and they too join in this. I can already see them choose their line of interest.”
So what appeals more to them – Politics or Business?
“Now the trends are changing; they are expressing an interest for business rather than politics. It must be due to all the destruction that they see which is associated with politics. Business is much more peaceful and is an art”
This article is reproduced with special permission from Qatar Today - Qatar's only news, business and lifestyle magazine
