Paris:A delegation of Jordanian women leaders took part in the OECD Forum on Women's Economic Empowerment in the MENA Region, held at the OECD headquarters in Paris. The event saw participation from representatives of economic, banking, and public institutions focused on enhancing women's roles in these sectors.
According to Jordan News Agency, the EU-funded regional project spans eight Arab nations and aims to promote financial inclusion, expand access to capital for women-led businesses, and foster environments supportive of female entrepreneurship and investment.
The Jordanian delegation included notable figures such as Reem Badran, the regional representative for the project across Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine; Thanaa Al-Khassawneh, CEO of the Business and Professional Women Association; Samia Al-Samadi, a gender empowerment specialist at the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Women's Empowerment; Lama Al-Samhouri, head of the Women's Unit at the Central Bank of Jordan; and Balqees Al-Bahri, diplomatic attaché at the Jordanian Embassy in Paris.
During the forum, Thanaa Al-Khassawneh highlighted national milestones achieved in enhancing financial management and investment skills among Jordanian businesswomen, particularly in a panel discussion on financial literacy and access to banking products.
The visit also included a tour of "Station F," Europe's largest startup campus. The delegation explored its incubator and accelerator infrastructure, mentorship programs, and venture capital integration models to gather insights for developing national strategies to support female-led startups in Jordan.
Additionally, the delegation met with Jordan's Ambassador to France, Lina Al-Hadid, and members of the Jordanian female diaspora working in international organizations in Paris, to discuss bilateral economic initiatives.