Amman, Jordan, June 14, 2010—IFC,
a member of the World Bank Group, is helping raise awareness among Jordanian
companies about the value of corporate governance and gender diversity,
critical issues that affect a company’s efficiency and attractiveness
to investors.
In cooperation with the Amman Chamber
of Commerce, IFC organized two events in Jordan this week to delve into
these issues. Additionally, both events promoted the importance and benefits
of preparing female executives for board directorships.
One event featured guest speakers from
the International Women Forum, the Business Professional Women Association,
Microfund for Women, and Schema. The speakers presented the case
for gender-diversified boards and shared their experiences regarding the
importance and impact of gender diversity on financial performance and
operational efficiency.
“Enhancing corporate governance and
gender diversity are necessary steps for any company working to improve
its position in the market,” said James Razook, IFC Corporate Governance
Program Manager. “Working with the Amman Chamber of Commerce has
allowed us to make crucial inroads in these vital areas.”
IFC and the Amman Chamber of Commerce
signed a cooperation agreement on June 7 that includes organizing training
events to prepare female executives for board directorships, as well as
helping raise awareness of the importance of corporate governance for small
and medium enterprises and the benefits of gender diversity.
“Having women serve on corporate boards
is vital,” said Maha Ali, Secretary General of Jordan’s Ministry of Industry
and Trade, who participated in one of the events. “We have a social
responsibility to encourage Jordanian women to be more integrated into
the workforce and to attain more senior executive and directorship positions.”
The events are led by the IFC Middle
East and North Africa Corporate Governance Program. They are part
of IFC’s efforts to improve corporate governance practices among both
private and public sector entities. In the Middle East and North
Africa, IFC operates country-specific corporate governance programs in
Jordan, Pakistan, and Yemen, and previously carried out activities in several
countries, including Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the United
Arab Emirates, and the West Bank and Gaza.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, creates opportunity for people to
escape poverty and improve their lives. We foster sustainable economic
growth in developing countries by supporting private sector development,
mobilizing capital for private enterprise, and providing advisory and risk
mitigation services to businesses and governments. Our new investments
totaled $14.5 billion in fiscal 2009, helping channel capital into developing
countries during the financial crisis. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
About the Amman Chamber of Commerce
Amman Chamber of Commerce is
one of the major organizations representing the private sector in Amman
– Jordan, and which has more than 40,000 registered members. The ACC was
founded in 1923 as a nonprofit organization to regulate and represent the
interests of all trade firms in Amman and surrounding areas, and as one
of the oldest Chambers of Commerce in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
For more information, visit www.ammanchamber.org.
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