Sharjah 24 – WAM: The UAE-Japan Friendship Committee for Women Career Development (FCW) currently held its 16th forum in Abu Dhabi to continue its journey of empowering women in the energy industry.
The forum was held under the patronage of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Nation”, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF).
The event was attended by Dr. Maitha Salem Al Shamsi, Minister of State, Tsuyoshi Nakai, Executive Director of Japan Cooperation Center Petroleum (JCCP), Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) senior leadership, and delegates of energy companies from the UAE, Japan and other Gulf nations.
During her address, Dr. Al Shamsi conveyed the greetings of Sheikha Fatima. She expressed her continued support for holding these forums to strengthen the bonds between the UAE and Japan; unlock women’s potential; and help further their development.
Dr. Al Shamsi said, “The oil and gas industry has made great progress towards gender diversity, but there is still a long way to go to ensure that women in this sector receive equal benefits in terms of performance and productivity.
“To achieve this, more opportunities need to be provided for women to participate and build confidence in their ability to work in the frontline and across all fields. I commend ADNOC for recognising that the growth and success of the organisation depends on a skilled, diverse, and committed workforce.”
As part of its 2030 Sustainability Strategy, ADNOC has an ambition to become a regional leader in diversity and employee development.
During the programme, the delegates visited Zirku Island to see how ADNOC’s female pioneers are energising offshore operations through diversity and inclusion.
ADNOC Offshore CEO Tayba Al Hashemi, said, “Women are key to a more sustainable future. Under the guidance of Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO, ADNOC has made excellent progress empowering females, and we have ambitious plans to double female representation in technical positions to 25 percent by 2030.
“We need diverse thinking to deliver the maximum energy and minimum emissions the world needs, and in line with the UAE leadership’s vision, we will continue to empower women and ensure all our people can unlock their potential to help build a more sustainable future.”
The success of the event was a testament to the importance of international cooperation in promoting gender balance in the workplace. The FCW will continue to hold such forums to promote collaboration and knowledge exchange between Japan and the UAE.
The forum concluded with both UAE and Japanese attendees expressing their appreciation to H.H. Sheikha Fatima for her tireless efforts to help unleash women’s abilities and harness their potential to build a sustainable future for all.
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