The University of Dubai and the Citi Foundation, Citi’s social investment arm, honoured six female entrepreneurs with 'Best Business Plan' awards recently in Fujairah.

The partners celebrated the 10th Citi-funded Diploma Program in Entrepreneurship and Business Plan Development, which is also supported by the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, said a statement.

It provides budding female entrepreneurs with a comprehensive support network and training scheme to establish their own businesses. It has been designed and delivered by University of Dubai’s Centre for Executive Development (CED).

The programme aims to provide entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills needed to prepare their own business plans and in turn build successful, profitable enterprises.

This year 30 women from areas such as Al-Bidiya, Al-Murbah and Dibba participated in the first level of the programme, with 22 going on to complete the full programme and submit business plans.

Dr Eesa Bastaki, president of the University of Dubai, said: “UD’s Centre for Executive Development is fully committed to proving equality through education, and encouraging female economic participation in order to develop and diversify the UAE’s economy and future development.

“Through this CED programme, we are creating a platform to support and develop the ideas of local female entrepreneurs into the established businesses throughout the UAE, the region and the rest of the world”

“We are very grateful to Citi Foundation for continuously providing funding for this initiative, year on year. Their support has allowed UD to build a team of experts, business leaders, entrepreneurs, mentors and consultants from across public and private organisations, who engage with us in delivering workshops, and providing continuous support and mentoring to our entrepreneurs,” he said.

“This is the first time the programme is being delivered in Fujairah, in collaboration with Khalifa Fund, with the aim of providing entrepreneurs with a fully supportive ecosystem to facilitate the establishment of business in their home towns,” said Dr Bastaki.

“This support will continue following the completion of the program, until women have successfully established their businesses. The aim of this scheme is not only to produce future business leaders and employers, but also to foster a culture of entrepreneurial spirit among local woman,” he said.

Karim Seifeddine, public affairs and government relations head, Citi, said: “Together with the University of Dubai, we’ve succeeded in designing and delivering a rigorous training programme on entrepreneurship and business plan development which has been addressing the entrepreneurial qualifications of women entrepreneurs around the country and arming them with the necessary skills, and knowledge base.” - TradeArabia News Service