The Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC) has formalized a partnership agreement with the European Women’s Association (EWA) in Brussels to facilitate the exchange of best practices, promote bilateral investments to empower women in business, and organize joint events in Belgium and across Europe.
The signing ceremony was held on the sidelines of SBWC’s participation in the second edition of the Sharjah-Europe Business Women Forum in Belgium.
The MoU, signed by Mariam Bin Al Shaikh, Director of Sharjah Business Women Council, and Yulia Stark, Founder and President of the European Women’s Association, focuses on empowering women to engage in entrepreneurship and business to realize the Sustainable Development Goals.
It also seeks to foster a safe, communal space for female founders where challenges and barriers to their engagement in entrepreneurship can be examined and addressed. The two sides will work towards providing opportunities for women-led enterprises to enhance their engagement in economic empowerment initiatives and highlight key governmental initiatives from both sides aimed at supporting women’s entrepreneurship.
Furthermore, the agreement commits both parties to work collaboratively to promote investment opportunities in their respective countries, address key areas of shared interest, and align these efforts with their overarching goals of fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology.
In addition, the MoU specifies that each party will invite the other side to participate in seminars, conferences, and initiatives hosted by their respective organizations. This collaboration will extend to regional and international events across the EU, GCC, and MENA regions, enabling female leaders to engage with policymakers on sustainability and women’s empowerment.
The agreement also provides for the nomination of distinguished speakers, mentors, and experts for training sessions. It also includes provisions for scholarships and participation in programs organized by either party or their partners.
Mariam bin Al Shaikh Director – SBWC
“The new partnership with the European Women’s Association marks a pivotal step in our mission to empower the council’s members. It stands as a clear testament to SBWC’s unwavering dedication to advancing its role in key economic sectors, strengthening its capacities, and driving the growth of its businesses and ventures. This MoU will profoundly impact, facilitating new knowledge and expertise with leading Belgian businesswomen and forging strategic connections, collaborations, and partnerships between Emirati and European women.”
Mariam Al Shaikh added that, “This memorandum plays a critical role in realizing our ambitions to position Sharjah as a global leader in entrepreneurship. It underscores the emirate’s significance as a gateway to Middle Eastern markets, highlighting the unique advantages and vast opportunities it presents to international partners.”
The MoU was signed following a panel discussion organized by SBWC during the Sharjah-Europe Business Women Forum, titled ‘Accelerating women’s economic empowerment through partnership’.
The speakers discussed the challenges businesswomen face when attempting to establish new partnerships and the ways to overcome them. They also highlighted several successful partnership models and their contribution to strengthening women’s economic roles. Additionally, they highlighted how to measure the success of these collaborations and their positive impact on economic empowerment.
SBWC’s participation in the Sharjah-Europe Business Women Forum, organized by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the European Women’s Association, aims to cultivate a culture of female entrepreneurship and strengthen cooperation to increase women’s participation in economic sectors.
The second edition of the forum has drawn officials, ambassadors, and representatives from various government entities in Sharjah, alongside 500 international participants and female entrepreneurs from the UAE, Belgium, and across Europe.
