Women Entrepreneurs Take Center Stage at Bahrain Forum

Women entrepreneurs from Nigeria to Sri Lanka walked away from a summit in Bahrain this week with something rare: actual business deals and partnerships that crossed continents.

The World Entrepreneurs and Investment Forum, held in Manama, brought together investors and business owners who turned networking sessions into real collaboration. Doris Martin, who runs a consultancy in Bahrain, secured partnerships with companies in the UAE and Morocco through business meetings organized during the event.

The forum closed with the Manama Declaration, a statement positioning women as drivers of economic transformation rather than passive recipients of support. The declaration emphasizes their essential role in emerging sectors like green technology, ocean sustainability, and creative industries.

Tosin Arwejulo, a Nigerian-American entrepreneur based in Bahrain, described connecting with leaders from every continent. The forum created space for conversations that typically happen only within regions, breaking down geographic barriers to collaboration.

For Ayanthi Gurusinghe, representing women entrepreneurs across South Asia, the gathering addressed a challenge her members face daily: access to funding. She brought delegates from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to share solutions and learn from peers facing similar obstacles.

The Ripple Effect

The forum's impact reached beyond boardrooms into art studios and classrooms. Nisreen Samour showcased her Micro Art Center, which trains artists with disabilities to create professional work and enter the job market independently. Nine students displayed their specialized artwork, demonstrating how skill development opens doors to economic participation.

Universities are rethinking their role too. Dr. Nihal Al-Najjar from the Royal University for Women in Bahrain explained that schools now teach entrepreneurship as a methodology, not just a subject. Students learn to spot gaps in society and build solutions through hands-on experience connected to mentors and funding networks.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization organized the forum, recognizing that sustainable economic growth requires women leading innovation rather than watching from the sidelines. When women gain equal access to capital, networks, and markets, entire economies grow stronger and more resilient.

Real partnerships formed, skills transferred across borders, and new voices joined the global business conversation.