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Participants in a panel discussion titled “Entrepreneurship and Women’s Empowerment in Promising Sectors” agreed that investment opportunities for women entrepreneurs are rich within three vital sectors in the Kingdom: the health sector, the technology sector, and the contracting sector. This underscores the need to promote a culture of innovation among students and young women through quality education, modern training methods, and the strengthening of innovative thinking. This came as part of the “Inspirational Entrepreneurship” Forum, organized by the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, in cooperation with the Saudi Businesswomen Association, on Tuesday, 19 November 2024.During the session, technology expert Ms. Rawan Al-Muqbil explained that funding represents the greatest challenge facing women entrepreneurs in the technology and information sector. She emphasized the importance of innovation in achieving a prosperous and sustainable economy, citing Saudi Vision 2030, in which innovation is a defining feature and a key driver. Addressing entrepreneurship challenges in the health sector, Dr. Maryam Al-Issa, Medical Genetics Consultant, innovation advisor, and faculty member at Alfaisal University, highlighted the close connection between the health sector and the human dimension, which creates an urgent need for continuous efforts to develop services and products in the field, innovate future solutions, and subject them to study and research before introducing them to the market. She also pointed to the importance of localizing medical technologies and equipment and strengthening the Saudi market with vital technologies, enabling competition with international companies. In her remarks, contracting sector investor Ms. Fawzia Al-Kuray reviewed the most important skills young women need for entrepreneurial success, including market scanning, adopting strategies to address market gaps by offering innovative products or services, and building relationships. She also discussed investment opportunities in the sector through developing heritage sites, leveraging the Kingdom’s regional resources and characteristics, and advancing waterfronts and entertainment facilities—enhancing the Kingdom’s position as a global tourism destination.
