The Bahrain International Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW-Bahrain) congratulates the International Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW International) for its 90th Anniversary, which became today one of the most influential international networks of business serving all society members and professional women and entrepreneurs in particular.
BPW International was founded by Dr. Lena Phillips in 1930, which aims to unite business and professional women in all parts of the world, by working for women’s economic independence, equal opportunity and representation in economic life, encouraging and supporting women and girls to develop their professional and leadership potential, undertake lifelong education and training, and use their abilities for the benefit of others, locally, nationally and internationally.
BPW International owns today affiliates in over 95 countries in five continents around the globe, including the Bahraini affiliate represented by BPW-Bahrain, spearheaded by Sheikha Hind bint Salman Al Khalifa. BPW International mission focuses on developing the business, professional and leadership potential of women on all levels through advocacy, education, mentoring, networking, skill building, and economic empowerment programs and projects around the world.
On this occasion, Sheikha Hind Bint Salman Al Khalifa President of BPW-Bahrain stated: “We are extremely delighted to extend our warm greetings to the president and members of BPW International celebrating the 90th Anniversary of its first inauguration. BPW International has made tremendous strides that has been brought to fruition in the field of redefining the feminine entrepreneurship, plus empowering gender equality in all sectors of commerce, productivity and economic development”.
Sheikha Hind added: “BPW-Bahrain is proud to celebrate with other BPW International affiliates this very special occasion, taking into consideration The Kingdom of Bahrain’s leading role hosting the first BPW affiliate in the gulf region, owing to the Kingdom’s mastery of women empowerment, establishing a strong base to economic incubators to ramp up entrepreneurs, and paving the way for them to build up promising entities supporting the national economy. On this historic day, we warmly congratulate our sisters in BPW International for its great achievements, they were really influential and inspirational to many women and girls, and we confirm our continuous support to them in order to achieve hopes and goals of many new generations to come”.
The Bahrain International Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW-Bahrain) was formed in December 2012 by a group of Bahraini women leaders, entrepreneurs and business owners. Led by Shaikha Hind bint Salman Al Khalifa, who was elected President of BPW-Bahrain, the initial 12-strong Board of Directors consisted of all the founding members Sh. Hind Bint Salman AL Khalifa, The president, Nabeela AL khayer, First Vice President, Sh. Mariam Bint Hamad ALKhalifa, Second Vice President, Khairiya Aldashti, General Secretary, Amina Janahi, Deputy General Secretary, Amaal Alhayki, Finance controller, Zahraa Taher, Chairman of the Committee of Public Relations, Najah Alkhuder, Chairman of economic and projects, Shohraa AL Shariff, Nadia ALmulla and Nahla Almahmood to be the first of its kind in the Gulf region, focuses on empowering women and investing in youth, by encouraging them to develop their professional and leadership potential through training, monitoring, and providing business incubators for start-ups.
BPW-Bahrain owns 35 business incubators, 18 incubators based in its new premises at Al-Andalus Park, Qudaibeya, and 17 incubators located at Al Frieh Dar Al Fonoon Gallery. In addition to these facilities, BPW-Bahrain provide training hall, internet Café and symposiums hall in its new premises at Al-Andalus Park that was inaugurated in the first quarter of 2019, contributing in expanding large scale of creative services offered to new segments of women entrepreneurs and small business owners. Al Frieh Dar Al Fonoon Gallery incubates also talented Bahrainis in the fields of: Perfumes and jewelry accessories, Azza Fahmi jewelry studio, gemstones designing, copper casting design, traditional games, fashion design, image and video documentation, renewing and recycling, beauty art and training center, interior design, and Arabic calligraphy.