Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council (ADBWC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support women-owned small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

 

Etihad has teamed up with the Abu Dhabi businesswomen council to support the 25,000 women-owned SMEs operating in Abu Dhabi. Etihad will consider members of the organisation to be preferred suppliers when it comes to procurement and through its Business Connect programme will offer generous Etihad Guest Miles benefits when booking travel.

 

Dr Nadia Bastaki, Chief People and Corporate Affairs Officer, Etihad, said: "As the UAE’s national airline, it is an honour for us to collaborate with Abu Dhabi’s Businesswomen’s Council to empower the thousands of female-owned businesses operating from our home, Abu Dhabi. It is crucial that we support women in our community and empower them to pursue their dreams. Our purpose is to give flight to ambition, and by being part of their journey, we can celebrate their success and inspire more women to become entrepreneurs. At Etihad, giving back to our community is critical and part of our social responsibility."

 

Shaikha Al Nuwais, Board Member of the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen’s Council, said: “This cooperation agreement with Etihad Airways aligns with our goal of empowering women in the business ecosystem and enhancing their presence in the rapidly developing aviation sector.

 

“We are committed to empowering and supporting the private sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and to enhancing the presence of businesswomen and female investors in the aviation sector. The aviation sector is witnessing remarkable development at local and global levels, which is in line with our aspirations towards empowering women in the business ecosystem and improving their skills and experience so that they can keep up with all economic, digital, and technological developments in various sectors” she continued. 

 

“We, at the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council, are keen to provide more investment opportunities across a variety of economic sectors, both locally and globally. We strive to pave the way for female entrepreneurs and businesswomen to establish themselves in the thriving Emirati business landscape, through fostering their growth in new, diverse economic and investment fields, and aligning with the national aspirations and government directives to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a distinguished destination for entrepreneurship.”

 

This partnership extends Etihad’s existing commitment towards local procurement, meaning Etihad looks to source from local suppliers and businesses wherever practical, said a statement. - TradeArabia News Service