It is a generally acknowledged fact that Bahrain has the strongest women workforce in the GCC, both in terms of numbers as well as in the experience and skill they bring to the table.
With Covid-19 having seeped its way into our lives, companies are now moving towards the work-from-home model to reduce the potential risk of Covid-19 exposure to their employees while maintaining business continuity.
In such challenging times, women have been the backbone of recovery within our communities.
UN Secretary General António Guterres has urged member states to put women at the centre of rebuilding efforts and involve women in all aspects of the decision-making hierarchy.
Stepping forward at the time of a new world order, Bahraini women have risen to the challenge, maintaining the home, monitoring their children’s new schedules and activities, while managing a busy work life.
Extending a “gender balance” approach to mitigating the impact of coronavirus, Bahrain has ensured that women do not become economic victims of the pandemic.
Organisations like the Supreme Council for Women help to address both the urgent and more long-term needs of women during these turbulent times. Such approaches reflect the commitment of the kingdom to upholding the progress achieved by Bahraini women both socially and economically, and to pro-actively contain the implications of the pandemic particularly on women.
Working with digital solutions that support organisations and drive efficiency, and especially with this critical situation, Bahrain’s cost structure and labour pool create opportunities in the nearshoring space for the GCC.
We are aware that digitisation has brought with it an adaptation of people to a more agile, comfortable and connected world, giving rise to a new consumer profile, the Prosumer, an empowered customer with the ability to influence the whole brand’s destiny.
On the other side of the coin, technology allows companies to receive information in real-time, analyse data and follow the customer along the whole value chain to keep him faithful and safe, which makes, in turn, easier to co-ordinate decisions for the good running of business.
While implementing the best international practices, I am exceptionally proud of every successful effort that this country makes to support the women workforce in the region, providing opportunities for women to work in an empowering environment that will support their growth through training and career growth opportunities.
It is no small feat that as a country we have faced the challenges of the last year boldly and come out on top with huge results and value creation all around.
We are confident that 2021 will see a wave of new success stories – and equally confident that our women will continue to take on every challenge to ensure it.
As whole continents struggle to contain the spread of Covid-19, Bahrain has been praised for its efforts to tackle the crisis. As the first Arab country to confirm its participation in the World Health Organisation’s “solidarity trial” experiment, Bahrain has stood at the forefront, and without hesitation and with complete commitment, Bahraini women have led from the front.
* Ms Bubshait is director – Business Development, Silah Gulf