Geneva: The State of Qatar participated in the meeting of the Governing Board of the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy Fund (WEIDE Fund), held at the headquarters of the World Trade Organization in Geneva. Representing Qatar was HE Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Dr. Hend Abdulrahman Al-Muftah.
According to Qatar News Agency, Dr. Al-Muftah congratulated the World Trade Organization, the International Trade Centre, and the Secretariat of the WEIDE Fund for their significant progress this year. She highlighted the successful launch of the initiative in Nigeria and Mongolia and its upcoming activation in Jordan and the Dominican Republic. Her Excellency emphasized the fund's impact on women entrepreneurs, facilitating their journey in digital business creation and product exportation, thereby inspiring others.
Dr. Al-Muftah affirmed that initiatives like the WEIDE Fund promote inclusive trade, strengthen innovation ecosystems, and empower women as drivers of sustainable growth in developing economies. She praised the ongoing participation of Gulf partners, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which reflects regional cooperation and a commitment to empowering women through trade and technology. Qatar looks forward to more activities in the Middle East and North Africa under this framework.
She reiterated Qatar's support for South-South partnerships, fostering knowledge exchange, innovation, and investment to unlock women's potential. Women's economic empowerment and digital innovation are central to Qatar National Vision 2030 and advancing international cooperation. Her Excellency welcomed regional cooperation discussions, particularly with Arab economies aiming to expand women's digital entrepreneurship, ahead of the WTO's fourteenth Ministerial Conference (MC14) next year. She proposed joint events during the conference to showcase the region's efforts toward inclusive trade.
Dr. Al-Muftah also indicated that Qatar could support cooperation with private-sector entities and digital-economy platforms aligned with the WEIDE Fund's mission. She reaffirmed Qatar's commitment to working with all partners to enhance the fund's impact in supporting women exporters worldwide. The meeting highlighted the notable progress achieved by the initiative this year, supported by its founding donors, with Qatar at the forefront.