Sultan Bin Tahnoon Highlights Private Sector's Active Role in Advancement and Future of Social Investment

Hosts First Seminar Focusing on Ways to Mobilise UAE National Women's Participation in Private Sector. Emirates Foundation, an independent, philanthropic organisation set up by the Abu Dhabi government to facilitate public-private partnership for improving people's welfare across the UAE, has launched a Breakfast Club as a platform to deliberate upon and enhance the participation of businesses in social investment.

Members of the Breakfast Club include public and private sectors institutions from across the UAE interested in furthering their social investment or CSR activities.

The Club was launched on 13 March at the first event and attended by HE Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Managing Director, Emirates Foundation, Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade and Member of the Board of Directors of Emirates Foundation, HE Mubarak Hamad Al Muhairi, Managing Director of TDIC and Member of the Foundation's Executive Committee, and HE Saeed Al Hajeri Executive Director for Information and Technology at ADIA and Member of the Foundation's Executive Committee. 

The event also saw participation from representatives of multi-international companies such as ExxonMobil, Siemens, Shell, HSBC Bank, British Petroleum BP, Occidental Petroleum, Partex, NBAD, GASCO, ADAC, ADWEA and ADNOC.

HE Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Managing Director, Emirates Foundation, was present for the launch event that saw international experts and local specialists in social investment programmes sharing perspectives on enhancing private sector participation in socio-economic development programmes.

Commenting on the event, HE said: "The effective partnership between the public and private sectors is a testimony to the vision of our wise leadership, led by the UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The private sector in the UAE is an active partner in the process of economic and social development. Through creative initiatives, corporates have proven their ability to refine the capabilities of citizens and enable them to assume leadership positions at the domestic and international levels."

The Breakfast Club has a mandate of hosting four seminars annually, focusing on topical issues and providing appropriate practical recommendations on ways to promote the role of business in society. Outcomes of each session will be shared among participants and used to help promote best practice, innovative social investment and to develop programs that create social impact.

Clare Woodcraft, CEO, Emirates Foundation, said: "The launch of the Breakfast Club and the goal of hosting quarterly seminars will offer a platform for our partners in business to come together and identify ways to enhance their social investment programmes in the UAE."

The first session focused on private sector initiatives that could contribute to strengthening the role of women in the UAE. The seminar highlighted the importance of encouraging women to play a more participatory role in the private sector through broadening the avenues of career development.

Speaking at the seminar, HE Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon said: "Emirati women have been able to spotlight their ability to lead and excel in various fields across the public and private sectors. They have taken great strides and made the country proud with their achievements at the domestic and international landscape."

In her address, Clare Woodcraft said: "The first meeting of the Breakfast Club underscored the importance of women's participation in the private sector. It also deliberated upon ways to eliminate the many barriers that prevent their involvement. Some of the limiting factors include the belief that the monetary incentives provided by the private sector are less than those of the government. There is also a social stigma against women working in the private sector on the assumption that the public sector provides a safer environment. Longer working hours was also pointed out as one of the reasons that discourage women from opting for a career in the private sector."

Taroub Hasan, Head of Abu Dhabi Branch, HSBC Bank, who was the guest speaker at the first business breakfast's seminar talked about her experience as an Emirati woman in the private sector. "It is my pleasure to participate in the inaugural meet of the Business Club launched by Emirates Foundation. The session aimed to shed light on the participation of Emirati women in the private sector workforce and their ability to lead and excel in various fields and was extremely valuable. It was particularly interesting to learn about the flexible working hours and availability of part-time jobs that some private sector organisations offer. I look forward to participating in more such thought-provoking discussions as a member of the Club."

Hatem Shaker, Vice-President, ExxonMobil Gulf, said: "We are delighted to participate in the initiatives launched by Emirates Foundation. We believe that these social investment programmes promote synergy with various social institutions and related stakeholders. We strongly back the role of the private sector in fostering corporate social responsibility. The agenda for the Breakfast Club's first seminar is in line with one of our main concerns about supporting UAE youth, especially women and providing more employment opportunities in the private sector."