empowerME Conversations

De: Heartcast Media
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  • Resumen

  • Featured conversations with business and government leaders shaping the Middle East.

    empowerME Conversations is a project of the Atlantic Council’s empowerME initiative.
    Copyright Heartcast Media
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Episodios
  • Season 3 Episode 4 - Economies in Transition: Middle East

    Season 3 Episode 4 - Economies in Transition: Middle East
    Oct 11 2022
    In Season 3, Episode 4 of the empowerME Conversations podcast, host and Atlantic Council empowerME Chairman Amjad Ahmad interviews International Monetary Fund Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department Jihad Azour with guest co-host empowerME Director Racha Helwa, as they discuss the economy and market opportunities of the MENA region, women and youth empowerment, and the development of differing entrepreneurial ecosystems within the region. Season 3 of the empowerME Conversations Podcast is sponsored by UPS. Key Takeaways00:00 Intro02:43 Azour discussed how the current outlook in the region has moved from promising to challenging in a world where inflation is on the rise, there have been disruptions in supply chains, and there are issues with energy supply and security07:12 Azour emphasized that the rapid deterioration of climate conditions is only adding to the challenges that countries are facing, and reform must be well-calibrated to overcome these issues12:25 Azour talked about the importance of direct targeted social assistance, such as in Morocco, where over 5 million families were provided with support through Morocco’s Special Fund for the Management and Response to COVID-1916:09 Azour mentioned Egypt as an example of a country that has reformed over the last 5 years as it moved from untargeted subsidies to targeted support and improved living conditions for millions of people, highlighting that these changes have helped Egypt’s economy to grow 5%19:42 Azour emphasized the importance of using renewable energy, citing Masdar, a company in the UAE that emphasizes renewable energy, as a positive example, and adding the importance of creating synergy between the region and other parts of the world in this area23:33 Azour discussed how when the risk is high in regards to climate reforms, multilateral institutions are important to open the door for the private sector to come in26:10 Azour stated that governments need a multipronged approach in their response to climate and that they should gradually widen their sources of energy with additional investment into renewable investment29:04 Azour mentioned that there has been a move toward medium-term planning towards diversification to reduce dependency on oil and gas, and these are positive steps, but emphasized that challenge for Gulf countries is to continue to pursue diversification at a time when oil pries have reached over 100 USD a barrel32:07 Azour emphasized that if the Middle East and Central Asian countries truly want to succeed in inclusion, they need very clear strategies to involve women in the economic and decision-making arenas36:18 Azour discussed the IMF’s focus on creating job opportunities for women and its recent creation of a Gender Strategy, citing the IMF’s involvement in Jordan, and mentioned that it is important to level the playing field, as women in the region are often at a disadvantage due to issues with transportation, childcare, and more38:23 Azour discussed the importance of entrepreneurship, and how entrepreneurship can help create jobs, build the competitiveness of the economy, and grow the economy over the medium term41:42 Azour highlighted how being involved in the global market can help countries whether shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic, pointing to Morocco’s involvement in the production of spare parts as an example44:32 Azour stated that debt combined with external shocks increase vulnerability, and discussed how the IMF helps countries deal with how to reduce the level of debt and the level of external shocks on economies47:22 Azour mentioned that it is important to have a sustainable level of debt, and what“sustainable debt” is depends on the country, the nature of the debt, and a variety of other factors, emphasizing the necessity of assessing this on a country-by-country basis48:55 Azour highlighted that Gulf countries have been great supporters over the years to other countries in the region, and that they, as well as various regional institutions, have contributed to providing financing to other countries50:45 Azour discussed the need to gear policies towards addressing high levels of unemployment, starting with strengthening education, improving the labor market and the quality of infrastructure, to strengthening governance, as well as recognizing the region’s vulnerabilities, which include the high level of internally displaced refugees and the high level of conflict in the region Quotes mentioned by Jihad Azour "I think the role of women and youth is a game changer… In terms of women's participation, that is $1 trillion of additional output that can be created." "If we can rethink regional cooperation by developing new avenues of complementarity between countries, by opening up certain sectors, this in itself will not only strengthen regional integration, but also will create additional opportunities for jobsand for markets." Guest Social Media Linkshttps://...
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    54 m
  • Season 3 Episode 3 - Economies in Transition: Jordan

    Season 3 Episode 3 - Economies in Transition: Jordan
    Oct 4 2022
    In Season 3, Episode 3 of the empowerME Conversations podcast, host and Atlantic Council empowerME Chairman Amjad Ahmad interviews Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship Minister H.E Ahmad Al-Hanandeh with guest co-host Beyond Capital Managing Director Tamer Al-Salah to discuss Jordan’s current economic situation, the pivotal role investors play in growing their entrepreneurial ecosystem, and the increasing involvement of women in the Jordanian economy.



    Season 3 of the empowerME Conversations Podcast is sponsored by UPS.



    Key Takeaways

    00:00 Intro

    02:20 H.E. Al Hanandeh discussed the many challenges that Jordanian youth face today, including unemployment and inflation, and focused on the potential for startups to turn these challenges into opportunities.

    05:30 H.E. Al Hanandeh explained that the Jordanian government’s main priority is to grow the entrepreneurial sector by helping them access new markets, obtain financing, and find new talent through Digiskills, a not-for-profit company that works to identify the exact needs to private companies.

    9:59 H.E. Al Hanandeh discussed Jordan’s National Entrepreneurship Policy, which establishes the government’s commitment to provide support for the entrepreneurship sector.

    22:43 H.E. Al Hanandeh identified Jordan’s current target markets as the US, UK, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, and added that Jordan is also working to identify international and regional seminars, conferences, and fairs that can help create a roadmap for future endeavors.

    26:28 H.E. Al Hanandeh discussed how the establishment of the Innovative Startups and SMEs Fund by the Jordanian government helped attract 12 VCs to Jordan, and emphasized that the more you invest, the more you attract other investors.

    29:12 H.E. Al Hanandeh mentioned the need for greater contributions from seed investors.

    32:18 H.E. Al Hanandeh talked about the ministry’s financing of three new tech hubs in Jordan.

    34:22 H.E. Al Hanandeh explained that women are increasingly involved in startups, although women still face challenges due to lack of mobility.

    35:30 Al-Salah argued that the flexibility of jobs today, as well as the increase in virtual employment, has increased women’s involvement in startups, and added that the company he works for, Beyond Capital, works to support women investors and increase female engagement in the entrepreneurial sector.


    Quotes mentioned by H.E. Ahmad Al Hanandeh



    “The entrepreneurial ecosystem is able to provide to be very flexible and agile in providing jobs at the very tough times. During COVID, when things were going bad all over the place, the entrepreneurial ecosystem grew. The entrepreneurial ecosystem created new jobs and new companies. The entrepreneurial ecosystem contributed heavily to the efforts of facing the consequences of the pandemic.”



    “The more you invest into your ecosystem, the more you attract other investors to come and invest in your ecosystem.”



    “We reached out to an ecosystem that includes hundreds of new startups in different fields, hiring thousands of Jordanian youth into this ecosystem and plenty of very high promising startups, Jordanian startup companies, that have the potential to cross the border regionally or internationally.”



    Guest Social Media Links

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmadalhanandeh/?originalSubdomain=jo

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamer-al-salah-20a60616/

    https://twitter.com/ahmadalhanandeh

    https://twitter.com/TamerAlSalah



    Host Social Media Links

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/amjadahmadvc/

    https://twitter.com/amjadahmadVC
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    40 m
  • Season 3 Episode 2 - Economies in Transition: Egypt

    Season 3 Episode 2 - Economies in Transition: Egypt
    Sep 27 2022
    In Season 3, Episode 2 of the empowerME Conversations podcast, host and Atlantic Council empowerME Chairman Amjad Ahmad interviews Arab Republic of Egypt Ministry of International Cooperation Minister H.E. Rania A. Al-Mashat with guest co-host UPS President for International Public Affairs and Sustainability Penelope Naas to discuss Egypt hosting COP 27, increasing women in leadership positions, promoting inclusivity in the economy, energy transitions, and the continued development of Egypt’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.



    Season 3 of the empowerME Conversations Podcast is sponsored by UPS.



    Key Takeaways

    0:00 Intro

    4:50 H.E. Rania Al-Mashat discussed Egypt as the first country in the Middle East and North Africa or in Africa to issue green bonds, which are anchored on projects that have outcomes related to climate action, such as sustainable infrastructure, water, waste management, transportation, and renewables.

    6:10 H.E. Al-Mashat underscored Egypt’s forethought as the country invested in silos for wheat storage for the first time in 2014, demonstrating the resilience in adaptation projects which allowed the country to survive the wheat crisis.

    9:10 H.E. Al-Mashat argued that Egypt will attract capital amongst competition because of its success and goals such as the global competition for startups with Green Solutions and continued focus on adaptation for Africa.

    13:20 H.E. Al-Mashat emphasized the importance of COP 27 and the necessary energy transitions in Egypt, and Africa at large.

    17:00 H.E. Al-Mashat gave an overview of Egypt’s current and future projects to target climate action, such as the Integrated Sustainable Energy Strategy which includes KPIs for renewables, both wind farms, and solar plants, and by 2035 40% of Egypt's energy mix will be renewables.

    19:45 Penelope Naas reflected on Egypt asan important crossroad with regards to Egyptian waterways connecting the East to the West, and how this relates to Egypt’s relative climate and the fragility of supply chains and infrastructure.

    23:10 H.E. Al-Mashat asserted that regionalization and localization are not mutually exclusive when it comes to supply chain resiliency and furthered that there must be localization but with a level playing field.

    26:23 H.E. Al-Mashat stated that there are three words that shape the future of every country's economy: inclusive, digital, and green.

    29:30 H.E. Al-Mashat agreed that Egypt must continue to support women at all levels and cited the Closing the Gender Gap accelerator which supports women in leadership positions, pushes for equal remuneration, and also pushes for digital skills.

    32:40 H.E. Al-Mashat reflected on Egypt’s increased emphasis on the implementation and execution of recent projects and those since 2011.

    37:50 H.E. Al-Mashat purported her optimism and positivity for Egypt come from the amount of engagement that takes place within the country and with other countries.



    Quotes mentioned by H.E. Rania Al-Mashat



    “Women’s participation requires commitment from the government. And once that happens, culture starts to change… when women are in leadership positions and they do well, it becomes more familiar.”



    “I think there are three words that shape what every country's trying to do now on a national level or in partnerships, whether with the private sector or with IFIs, and it is an inclusive economy, a digital economy, and a green economy.”



    “There's also a lot of commitment, not just from the government but also from the private sector, that has been experimenting with incubators, pushing risk capital and venture capital into these startups... a key point is to market more and to make the success stories known.”



    Guest Social Media Links

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/rania-a-al-mashat-a00899182/

    https://twitter.com/RaniaAlMashat

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/penny-naas-077aa57/

    https://twitter.com/pennynaas



    Host Social Media Links

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/amjadahmadvc/

    https://twitter.com/amjadahmadVC
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    41 m
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