WIEF Young Entrepreneurs & Businesswomen Forums

2009

Mar  1st

Kickstart the 5th WIEF
WIEF Young Entrepreneurs & Businesswomen Forums Kickstart the 5th WIEF
Outlining opportunities for the development of women entrepreneurs and Islamic finance

Jakarta, 01 March 2009 –– Approximately 1500 delegates from 35 countries have arrived in Jakarta for the 5th World Islamic Economic Forum. A Joint opening ceremony by the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla, ceremonially began the day-long Pre-Forum program of the 5th World Islamic Economic Forum which focused on two key issues imperative to the development of the Islamic business community – businesswomen and young entrepreneurs.

The three plenary sessions of the Businesswomen Forum entitled Opportunities beyond Borders, Evolving role of Women in Business, Transforming Market Challenges into Opportunities and “Growing” the next Generation of Women Entrepreneurs: Engaging Young Women & Girls in Entrepreneurship jointly raised the agenda of how best to overcome the obstacles women faced in business and highlighted the unique role women play in this capacity. The key point stressed by multiple panelists was of the multifaceted role women perform in the social, organizational and individual context. This notion was flanked by the acknowledgement that indeed, the challenges faced by women in business are the same as that of their male counterparts.

Dato’ Dr. Norraesah Mohamad, Chairwoman WIEF Business Network, commenting during the Opportunities Beyond Borders plenary session stated, “The event today gives women in business a platform to foster cooperation amongst women industrial players from all parts of the globe and build a solid understanding of their common needs not only as women but also as key decision makers in business. This Forum provides a unique opportunity for us to make business connections across borders.”

Ms. Rina Fahmi Idris, Chairwoman of IWAPI (Indonesia Women Business Association) and member of the 5th WIEF Organizing Committee, added to this, stressing the need for a working plan, stating “These sessions actually provide a medium to invite women in business to connect and thereafter establish plans to collaborate and regroup after such an event to extend more detailed information, and develop strategies to sitting together after this big event and exchange more detail information on business side answering the same global challenges faced by our counterpart.”
The Young Leaders Forum, with plenary sessions entitled The Leadership Imperative: Towards a Good Succession Plan, Employment in the 21st Century: Understanding the Global Workplace, Banking on Integrity: The prospects of Islamic Finance in a Plural Society and Plugging ideas into Business: Creating Innovative Industries broached the strategic discussion of succession planning to provide better opportunities for leadership in young entrepreneurs and the role of Islamic finance at this time of global financial crisis.

Dato’ Sri Nazir Razak, Chairman of the WIEF Young Leaders Forum said “This is a golden opportunity for the Muslim community to leverage on the growing prominence of Islamic capital and finance as a means to revitalize Muslim leadership and advance its position on the world stage”.

“We need to provide support systems to young entrepreneurs in order for them to develop value creation skills that are professional, innovative and focused which drive their respective businesses. This Forum allows for opportunities to connect with similar organizations around the globe with the same focus,” said Erwin Aksa, Chairman, HIPMI (Young Businessmen’s Association of Indonesia).

The 5th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) will be held in Jakarta on 2 – 3 March 2009 at the Ritz Carlton Pacific Place Hotel, to be officially opened by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Created to establish dialogue through business partnerships amongst Muslim entrepreneurs as well as between Muslim and non-Muslim businessmen, the World Islamic Economic Forum seeks to foster channels of communication to help address and resolve important economic issues within the Muslim and non-Muslim world.

For further information, please contact:

Ms. Mahua Mitra
Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide/Jakarta
P. +62 21 …
F. +62 21 526 6264
E. mahua.mitra@ogilvy.com
Ms. Eswari Kalugasalam
World Islamic Economic Forum Foundation
P. +603 21…
F: +603 2145 5504
E. eswari@wief.org