Union of Arab Banks to empower women in finance

The secretary general of the Union of Arab Banks (UAB), Wissam Fatuh, disclosed in a statement last week that the UAB will hold a conference in Beirut next Friday focusing on the empowerment of women in the banking and financial sectors. The conference will be organized under the sponsorship of the minister for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, in coordination with the World Union of Arab Bankers. Fatuh said that as the summit seeks to expand the role of women in the industry, invitations have been sent to various Arab civil society organizations involved with women’s rights and affairs, as well as to the secretary general of the Arab Women Organization affiliated with the Arab League. Fatuh mentioned that there are currently some 16 women general managers in Lebanon, pointing to a tendency by the government to step up the role of women in ministries, the Parliament and in the banking and finance industries. He concluded by stressing the important role women can play in raising awareness and the development of society, with special focus on rural women who boast potentials in running small and medium enterprises if provided with the proper funding. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, February 25, 2017)