“The Middle East and Africa regions are growing at a rapid pace, and innovation is a key component to that,” said Avi Hasson, CEO of Start-Up Nation Central, the organization that put the event together.
Consensus Public Relations in Morocco and Start-Up Nation Central are non-profit organizations that support Israeli innovation around the world to assist address global concerns.
“Last year, we held the Connect to Innovate conference in Casablanca which brought together hundreds of Israeli and Moroccan business leaders,” Hasson added. “This gathering deepens the dialogue among professional networks from across the MEA region and recognizes the important role that women play in the innovation ecosystem. We are proud to provide a platform to encourage further collaboration.”
Start-Up Nation Central focused its “Women Connect to Innovate” initiative on the challenges faced in the region and in Africa and how they are defined not just by geography, culture, or religion as an organization at the forefront of ushering in a new era of shared economic opportunities for the Middle East. The project also looked into ways to ensure that women have access to basic infrastructure, education, and financial stability so they can pursue successful professions in the fields of their choice.
Bahrain, Benin, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, and other countries were represented among the participants.
The Gulf-Israel Women’s Forum, Leaders on Purpose, UM6P (Mohammed VI Polytechnic University), Women in Tech, CESE (Conseil Economique Social et Environnemental), Morocco’s Ministry of Soldiery, FRDISI (Fondation de Recherche de Development et d’Innovation en Sciences et Ingénierie), and Google were among the companies and organizations that helped organize the event.
“By bringing together prominent women in business, innovation and technology from the region, we are creating a cohort of women which will help propel our region forward,” said Start-Up Nation Central Director of Innovation Diplomacy Aviva Steinberger. During the last three days, the groundwork for new collaborations has been laid and we look forward to seeing the partnerships evolve.”
The workshops and panel discussions emphasized how closely aligned the MEA countries are in terms of providing obstacles to women’s empowerment. The innovation produced by these nations also includes a lot of solutions in fields like water technology, renewable energy, ag-tech, human capital, and health tech, all of which offer economic opportunities to address problems both locally and globally. Because cultures where women flourish are civilizations that share greater prosperity globally.