Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Mukhtar Al-Yafaei met today at the Ministry’s headquarters in the capital, Aden, with representatives of the Women Entrepreneurs Forum in Hadhramaut to discuss preparations for the first Hadhramaut Women Entrepreneurs Conference, as well as a number of initiatives aimed at expanding women’s participation in economic and community activities.

During the meeting, Minister Al-Yafaei was briefed on the Forum’s activities and programs, the objectives of the conference, and the expected participation of women from various fields. He also learned about the projects and initiatives being undertaken by the Forum to highlight women’s experiences and contributions to entrepreneurship and community development.

Minister Al-Yafaei affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting high-impact initiatives undertaken by civil society organizations, recognizing them as partners in development efforts. He also stressed the importance of encouraging programs that contribute to women’s economic empowerment and expand their participation in the labor market. He underscored the need for institutional cooperation and coordination with the Ministry and its offices across the governorates to ensure that efforts are complementary and that initiatives are transformed into programs with tangible and sustainable impact.

The Minister noted that the conference represents an opportunity to showcase women’s capabilities and experiences, promote entrepreneurship, and attract partners and supporting entities for women-led projects. He called for developing the Forum’s experience into an organized national framework bringing together businesswomen from different governorates, strengthening their representation and presence at economic events and forums both domestically and internationally, in accordance with applicable legal frameworks and procedures.

For their part, the Forum’s representatives presented their vision for the conference and its desired outcomes, including the participation of women entrepreneurs from a range of sectors. They expressed their appreciation for the Ministry’s positive response and their hope that the conference would contribute to highlighting women’s experiences, expanding opportunities for women entrepreneurs, and opening new avenues for cooperation with organizations and stakeholders interested in supporting women-led initiatives.