Princess Ameerah Al-Taweel, vice chairwoman of Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation, highlighted the issue of women empowerment in Arab world, especially in Saudi Arabia, during a series of interviews with US media.

Ameerah, the wife Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Al-Saud, chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) and Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation, during her recent US trip, took part in several key events including a panel discussion 'Voices for Change in the Mena' moderated by former president Bill Clinton in New York.

She was also interviewed by big names in the US media including Piers Morgan from CNN, Margaret Brennan from Bloomberg, Jenna Goudreau (Forbes Magazine) and Laura Stampler of The Huffington Post, said a statement from KHC.

Almost immediately upon her return to Riyadh, Ameerah was interviewed by James Menendez of BBC World Service radio, it added.

Ameerah’s extensive media exposure in New York came only a few days prior to King Abdullah’s historic announcements heralding a new role in public life for Saudi women and her right to participate in the Shura council, stand as candidates and vote in municipal councils elections.

Lauding the Saudi King's announcement, Ameerah said,“King Abdullah is a reformer; he is for women’s empowerment.”

Ameerah is a magna cum laude graduate of New Haven University (US) with a degree in Business Administration and is a board member of Silatech, an international youth employment organization.

Speaking at the panel discussion, Ameerah said, “We are not problems to be solved, we are problem solvers, we should not be looked at as a threat but as an opportunity.”

The session moderated by Clinton focused on current issues in the Mena region including youth influence and prominent on society, the impact of new technology, the role and empowerment of girls and women, and employment challenges.

During the discussion, the Princess spoke about the issue of women and youth in the Arab world and their need for support through the establishment of non-government organizations (NGOs), building civil society and investing in the region’s youth.

'People take their voices to the streets when they are not heard by their governments. If we want stability in the region, we must build institutions of civil society so people can channel their demands through these institutions,' she noted.

'If we want prosperity in the region we must invest in young people through encouraging enterprise,' she added.

During her trip, Ameera was accompanied by Heba Fatani, senior executive manager, Corporate Communications Department, Noor Al-Dabbagh, executive manager, Strategic Studies Department, Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation and her office manager Kholoud Al-Dosari.-TradeArabia News Service