A Saudi Arabian princess has stressed that women in the Gulf were not restricted by traditions and actually played a key role in their country's economic growth.

Prominent women's activist Princess Lulwa bint Faisal Al Saud was speaking during the opening of the 63rd World Congress of Femmes Chefs d'Entreprises Mondiales (FCEM) held at the Gulf Hotel yesterday (March 23), said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

More than 300 delegates from 40 countries are taking part in the high-level networking event, which is being held under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty King Hamad and Supreme Council for Women (SCW) president.

The three-day event, held under the theme "Our Bridges to the World", is being organised by the Bahrain Business and Professional Women International Federation (BPW) in co-operation with the Council of Arab Business Women (CABW).

Its keynote speaker was UAE International Co-operation and Development Minister Shaikha Lubna bint Khaled Al Qassimi.

"The West has a preconceived idea that women in the Gulf are restricted by their religion, culture and traditions, which is not correct," Princess Lulwa told the GDN on the sidelines of the conference.

"They believe and project that Islam restricts women from working or from getting engaged in any other areas of life, which is not true.

"Islam promotes equality for men and women and it is the customs that changed a lot.

"However, the West has a different idea totally, and they believe that because we are veiled we do not do anything and only stay at home.

"There is no ignorance among Gulf women and Bahraini women are a beautiful example of this."

Shaikha Lulwa, who is the daughter of late Saudi King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, spoke during a session titled "Our Economy on the International Map".

Meanwhile, FCEM president Laura Gucci urged women in leadership positions in the region to contribute to diversifying their economies.

"With the fall in oil prices, it is the right time for women in the Gulf to step in and tap the rich market of opportunities so that they can contribute towards diversifying their national economy," she explained.

"We hope to bridge relations with the Gulf and Bahrain in particular in the coming days through business opportunities for young women entrepreneurs."

The conference, which also held B2B meetings at the Sheraton Hotel Bahrain, will conclude tomorrow. - TradeArabia News Service