Arab Business Women Leaders meet in Tunis for Business Women's Summit

Tunis, May 24-26, 2005: To enable women business owners and managers to broaden their skills and create supportive networks, MEPI sponsored a three day conference in Tunis from May 24-26, 2005. Keynote speaker, Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs, Paula Dobriansky, interacts with participants from some of the 16 countries and territories who attended the forum. She stressed in her remarks that "a priority of U.S. policy is to foster the participation of women in all forms of public life – be it the political world or the work force."

The Beyster Institute of the University of California-San Diego was the chief organizer of the three-day meeting. At left, its Executive Vice President, Dr. Ray Smiley, welcomes participants. The robust schedule included workshops on enhancing negotiation skills, presentations to potential investors, managing cash flow, using the Internet for marketing, etc. Conferees listen attentively as one of the session leaders shares tips on developing managerial skills.

The forum included a trade fair where products from participants’ enterprises were exhibited. Here two Bahraini business women proudly display promotional material for their business.

Eleven successful American entrepreneurs volunteered to attend the Summit and to share their experiences and expertise with the conferees. Local media interview Karen Kerrigan, president of Women Entrepreneurs, Inc., who worked closely with MEPI and the Beyster Institute to arrange the participation of the American volunteers.

Fittingly, as the Summit came to its conclusion and after several days of interaction among the representatives of the many countries, women join hands in a show of regional solidarity. A major outcome of the Summit was the establishment of a regional network, managed by the women themselves, to provide continuing training and future business opportunities.