Qatari Businesswomen Association (QBWA) Vice-Chairwoman Aisha Alfardan (sitting right) and German-Arab Women Business Leaders (GAWBL) Chairwoman Dr Gabi Kratochwil (sitting left) at the MoU signing ceremony, yesterday.
As many as 24 young Qatari and German women will take part in exchange business tours this year as part of a program which aims to further strengthen Qatari-German business relations with a particular focus on empowering and connecting women from both countries.
Qatari Businesswomen Association (QBWA) Vice-Chairwoman, Aisha Alfardan, and German-Arab Women Business Leaders (GAWBL) Chairwoman, Dr Gabi Kratochwil, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday to facilitate the exchange visits under the ‘Young Women Program’ study tour.
Talking to The Peninsula during the event, Kratochwil said a group of 10 to 12 young Qatari women who have graduated or just started their business will visit Germany’s high end business districts in Berlin and Munich in October while their German counterparts will visit Qatar either in December or January to undergo training, networking, and learn best practices in business.
Kratochwil also said: “We will be visiting the big corporations like Siemens, BMW and to see on a management level how are they preparing their young women to climb the career ladder. We want to have an impactful exchange with tangible results. Also, the group of young German ladies will explore Qatar’s achievements to see how Qatar is progressing. I think we can learn a lot from each other. It should not be one-sided but mutual exchange”.
Alfardan added: “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.
The program which is organised by the QBWA and GAWBL will be implemented in cooperation with the Qatari Embassy in Germany, German Embassy in Doha, and the German Federal Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
During the event, Germany’s Ambassador to Qatar Hans-Udo Muzel reiterated Germany’s full support and special commitment to the initiative.
Qatar’s Ambassador to Germany Sheikh Saoud Al Thani also 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.
Lilian Muzel-Kiviet, wife of the German Ambassador also said: “Germany is proud to contribute in this context to Qatar’s Vision 2030 Masterplan 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”.
