Saudi Arabia reforms for women boost economic growth

Saudi Arabia reforms for women boost economic growth

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has implemented a number of ambitious reforms to enhance women's economic inclusion, which has resulted in women gaining more access to education and employment options. According to a Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report in 2020, the highest rates of women's entrepreneurial intentions were reported in the Middle East and North Africa region at 36. 6 percent as Saudi female entrepreneurs were responsible for driving this trend. Issam Abousleiman, the World Bank regional director of the GCC countries, told Arab News that women have played a fundamental role in boosting economic growth in the Kingdom. "Saudi Arabia has made a lot of reforms related to the business environment, along with those laws that are measured by the Women, Business and the Law (WBL) index that we have," he said, adding that these laws have increased the number of women entrepreneurs in the Kingdom. Abousleiman said the number of Saudi women entrepreneurs increased by 50 percent between 2018 and 2019, particularly in the consumer service sector. The World Bank's annual WBL report also stated that Saudi Arabia made significant progress, scoring 80 out of 100. Reforms in the Kingdom have provided funding to projects and initiatives, which have created opportunities