Source: UN News: Thursday, 19 February 2026 00:01 AM
Women entrepreneurs need to be recognized as architects of economic change, and not merely beneficiaries of economic change. This approach is highlighted as the central message of the Manama Declaration, which was adopted at the World Entrepreneurs and Investment Forum (WEIF) in Bahrain last week. The Manama Declaration places women at the center of economic transformation and emphasizes that empowering women in business and innovation spaces is essential for inclusive and sustainable progress. The Declaration also calls for strengthening the presence of women in all emerging sectors, including green, blue and orange economies. The Green Economy is based on environmental responsibility, the Blue Economy is based on maritime Sustainable use of resources and orange economy promote creativity.World Entrepreneurs and Investment Forum (WEIF) Organized by the Industrial Development Organization of the United Nations – (UNIDO) based in Bahrain, the Investment and Technology Promotion Office. It was attended by leaders, investors and entrepreneurs from around the world. Discussions during the forum focused on shaping a more resilient global economy and creating new opportunities for women-led enterprises. UN News/Abdelmonem Makki Shared challenges, shared solutions The forum’s participants saw diverse results, and the forum’s impact extended beyond the Arab region. The forum also included representatives from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Ayanthi Gurusinghe, president of the Ceylon Women Entrepreneurs Chamber in Sri Lanka and representative of the South Asian Women’s Development Forum, said participants learned about the challenges and financial constraints facing women entrepreneurs across the region. They shared their experiences and views on the issues around them. “This forum was a great opportunity to network, come together, exchange ideas, and learn from each other’s experiences.” Ayanthi Gurusinghe praised UNIDO for providing a venue that fosters global connections. With a strong focus on inclusion, the Forum, beyond the panel discussions and networking sessions, also had a special focus on inclusive entrepreneurship, with three exhibitions Nisreen Samur of Bahrain’s Micro Art Center also participated in these exhibitions. This center provides training to artists with special disabilities to develop their artistic talent. UN News/Abdelmonem Makki Nisreen Samour said, “Today nine students participated, all specializing in their areas of interest and competence.” She told UN News, “I train them privately, and currently we are working on developing their skills and empowering them to create professional artworks, so that their artworks can reach the commercial market and generate some employment and income for them…” This center It also works to help orphan children develop their art skills and give recognition to their work. It focuses on developing self-reliance through creativity. A recurring theme was the role of higher education in preparing young women to pursue entrepreneurship globally. Dr Nihal Al-Najjar, a professor at the Royal University for Women in Bahrain, spoke to UN News, emphasizing the need for entrepreneurship to be deeply embedded in educational systems. He said: Entrepreneurship needs to be understood not just as a subject but as a process. Learning by doing and applying the experience learned is very important. “We encourage students to think and innovate, and to identify gaps in society and work on solutions.” He said that universities need to work to connect students to a broader entrepreneurial environment, rather than providing education limited to classrooms. UNIDO ITPO Bahrain A Driving Force for Sustainable Development Prior to the convening of the WEIF Forum, the International Women Entrepreneur Challenge (IWEC) annual conference was also organised. It is a New York-based non-governmental organization that helps women-owned businesses grow. Addressing the conference, UNIDO Director General Gerd Mueller described women’s entrepreneurship as a driving force for sustainable development, global innovation and economic inclusion. He said that we must ensure that women everywhere have a level playing field and opportunities in which they can take full advantage of their potential and capabilities. He also highlighted the challenges women face around the world in finance, technology and high-skilled roles. Director-General Gerd Mueller reiterated UNIDO’s resolve that women’s empowerment is vital to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. He praised Bahrain’s leadership in supporting entrepreneurship and women’s economic participation, saying, “UNIDO has worked closely with other countries in Syria, Sudan and “We have recently started work to run a recovery program in Palestine… where most of the affected women are women who need our support.”
