Alexandria Business Women Association
Alexandria Businesswomen Association ABWA is the first Businesswomen Association licensed in Alexandria Governorate. ABWA stands for social and economic empowerment of women through entrepreneurship.
From this aspect ABWA took the initiative of holding Businesswoman Day conference to discuss all topics that concern businesswomen and also giving opportunities of cooperation and coordination between ABWA-Members and other Egyptian, Arab, and foreign Businesswomen.
The conference is carried out on a yearly basis since 2007 with a different theme each year that fits the late-breaking topics, and has successfully earned the sponsoring of famous companies and firms since its starting such as: Mercedes Benz, GPP, ECP – USAID, CIB bank, HSBC bank, Housing and Development bank, Alexandria bank, Coca Cola, E.E.C. furniture, and Egypt No Dust Co. In addition to a number of pharmaceutical companies: Pharco, Novartis, Abbott, GlaxoSmithKline, Amplifon and Borg.
An Exhibition is held on conference margins with the participation of number of industrial companies in the market and interested in the business field.
The 1st Businesswoman Day was held on 27 October 2007 at Palestine hotel that overview the magnificent gardens of Montaza, under the patronage of the Governor of Alexandria with the support of the Businesswomen Partnership Program. This project is being carried out by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through Global Project Partners (GPP) in cooperation with the Berlin-based Association of Businesswomen (VDU). It was attended by about 150 businesswomen from Egypt and Arab countries.
The conference discussed:
Speakers so far were from Jordan, Germany, Syria and Egypt.
The 2ndBusinesswoman Day 2008 was held under the theme of "Businesswomen and Economical Development Trends" on November 8, 2008 under the patronage of the governor of Alexandria and the Minister of Social Solidarity at the Four Season Hotel, Alexandria, Egypt and with the attendance of approximately 170 persons including businesswomen from Egypt and Arab countries, individuals concerned in business, and Business Associations registered with the Ministry of Social Affairs.
Five sessions were held covering different issues that concern businesswomen. These sessions were followed by open discussions
Speakers were from Germany, Jordan and Egypt
The 3rd Businesswoman Day 2009 was held under the theme of "Businesswomen & Global Economic Crisis: Together for a Better Future " under the patronage of H.E. Adel Labib Governor of Alexandria and the attendance of H.H. Sheikha Hessah Al Sobbah; president of Arab Council for Business Women, on November 7, 2009 at the Four Seasons hotel, Alexandria, Egypt and with the attendance of approximately 200 businesswomen and individuals concerned in business from Egypt and Arab countries.
This year the conference adopted the open discussion techniques in all of the sessions allowing more interacting between speakers and audience thus optimizing the degree of beneficiary from discussed topics.
Three sessions were held covering different issues that concern businesswomen.
In this session the technique of holding 3 parallel workshops allowing audience to choose the topic they prefer to attend was executed for the 1st time in the history of the event and proved to be of a highly success. ABWA decided to execute this technique in the upcoming conferences.
Workshop 1: Maximizing the Potential of Women Entrepreneurs – Experiences and Ideas for the Future
Workshop 2: Business Cross Culture – Similarities and differences in doing business in Egypt and Germany
Table Discussion: Small group of 15 women discussed and exchanged experiences in “What does the future hold for me?”
Speakers were from Germany, Kuwait and Egypt.
The 4th Businesswoman Day 2010 was held under the theme of "Businesswomen and the power of associations " under the patronage of the governor of Alexandria and the Minister of Social Solidarity at the Four Season Hotel, Alexandria, on October 23rd, 2010 at the Four Seasons hotel, Alexandria, Egypt and with the attendance of businesswomen association's representatives from India, South Africa, Mauritius, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Germany in addition to individuals concerned in business from Egypt and Arab countries.
This year the conference also adopted the open discussion techniques in all of the sessions allowing more interacting between speakers and audience thus optimizing the degree of beneficiary from discussed topics.
Three sessions were held covering different issues that concern businesswomen.
Workshop 1: Role Model of Arab Expatriate Women in Germany
Workshop 2: Chamber- and Advisory Network for Women Entrepreneurs (CHANCE)
An Example of International Businesswomen Cooperation
Speakers were from Germany, Syria, and Egypt.
The 5th Businesswoman Day 2011 was held under the title "The inevitability of change: Time of Change is Time for Chances", on October 15, 2011 at the Four Seasons Hotel of Alexandria. The conference aimed to keep up with the radical transition witnessed in Egypt after the revolution of Jan 25.
The event was with the collaboration the Businesswomen Partnership Program. Among the attendees were delegations of Vdu (Berlin-based Association of Businesswomen) and FCEM (world Association of women entrepreneurs)
This year topics are:
The 6th Businesswoman Day 2012 was held under the title "Entrepreneurship & Investment for Egypt's Economic Future", on 17 November, 2012 at the Four Seasons Hotel of Alexandria with the attendance of participants from Egypt, Europe, and Arab World.
The event was with the collaboration of the Egyptian Competitiveness Program ECP – USAID. This year topics are:
Presentation of the top three projects of the ABWA Business Plan Competition
Three Entrepreneurs with the most innovative business projects submitted for the competition were presented and honored in the event.
The 7th Businesswoman Day 2015 was held under the title "Small and Medium enterprises shaping the economic future of Egypt", on October 17, 2015 at the Four Seasons Hotel of Alexandria with the attendance of participants from Egypt, Europe, and Arab World.
The conference was held with the collaboration of the International Labour Organization ILO and the Federation of Egyptian Industries
The conference discussed the following topics:
Speakers were from Germany, Lebanon, and Egypt.
