Who holds the right to formulate economic policies? Is it the academic expert? The government official? Or the major investor? The new reality adds another actor: the female entrepreneur. With her practical experience and cross-border networks, she has become capable of influencing economic and policy agendas that women were never previously part of formulating.

Entrepreneurship as a Gateway to Influence

Entrepreneurship grants women a unique platform to understand the daily challenges facing the business environment: from lack of funding and difficulty accessing markets, to bureaucratic complexities and weak infrastructure. This practical understanding is not necessarily held by the decision-maker operating behind a desk, but it becomes accessible when female entrepreneurs organize their efforts in the form of professional clusters or networks.

This phenomenon has begun to clearly emerge in the Gulf. For example, in Saudi Arabia, businesswomen established councils and committees within the Chambers of Commerce and were able to present practical recommendations to the Ministry of Commerce regarding facilitating the registration of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and simplifying procedures. In the UAE, businesswomen played a prominent role in advocating for policies supporting digital entrepreneurship, which helped launch government initiatives focused on technological innovation.

The Power of Organization and Women’s Networks

Individual success is important, but it is insufficient to engineer political or economic change. What distinguishes the current stage is that women have begun collective action through networks. In Yemen, despite security and economic challenges, small women's associations emerged in Aden and Sana'a to enhance funding opportunities for small projects. These associations were not limited to internal support; they began weaving relationships with Gulf and international institutions, giving them a voice that transcends Yemen’s borders.

These networks, when expanded to include the Gulf and North Africa, can transform into an regional economic pressure group. Imagine female entrepreneurs from Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Jordan, and Egypt convening on a single policy paper regarding targeted funding for women. This type of effort imposes itself on government agendas because it combines practical experience with numerical strength.

From Markets to Legislation

The matter does not stop at financing. It extends to digitalization and e-commerce. Women's experiences in launching digital sales platforms have prompted some Ministries of Communications and Economy to update e-commerce legislation in line with the practical reality effectively led by women.

Challenges to the Transition to Policy

Naturally, the road is not without difficulties. There are those who believe that women's natural place is in managing small projects, while major economic decisions are left to men. This mentality still persists in some institutions, limiting women's access to decision-making circles.

Furthermore, some women's networks suffer from weak continuity. They rely on voluntary efforts or external support, making them vulnerable to stagnation at the first crisis. Therefore, building sustainable networks requires institutional funding and a strong administrative structure.

Future Prospects: From Initiatives to Regional Policies

The next step that could change the rules of the game is transforming local initiatives into organized regional networks. We need an umbrella that brings together female entrepreneurs from the Gulf, Yemen, and neighboring countries, not just to exchange experiences or success stories, but to formulate regional policy papers to be presented to governments and international organizations.

For instance, a women's policy paper on the Green Economy could propose unified legislation for managing renewable energy in Yemen and the Gulf. Alternatively, a joint women-led initiative in the Blue Economy (maritime tourism, sustainable fishing) could transform into a regional policy that encourages investment in this sector.

What We Expect from [The Oasis] in Supporting This Transition

We expect from [The Oasis] to solidify its position as a collective platform for dialogue and communication among young and female leaders in the region, and to contribute to transforming individual efforts into interconnected regional initiatives. We also look forward to the Forum supporting the organization of specialized economic meetings for female entrepreneurs, leading to the formation of an effective regional network capable of submitting practical policy proposals that express the voice of women and contribute to shaping a more stable and cooperative future.

Conclusion

The transition from entrepreneurship to influencing public policy is neither a luxury nor a symbolic step. It is a strategic path that redefines the role of women in the regional economy. When women organize themselves into networks and present visions based on their practical experience, they not only contribute to strengthening the status of women but also build a more resilient and sustainable economy.

Women's participation in formulating economic policies is not merely a demand for achieving justice; it is a necessity for building a more stable and innovative regional future.

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From Entrepreneurship to Public Policy: How Women Are Reshaping the Regional Economy?

Executive Summary

Entrepreneurship as a Gateway to Influence

Entrepreneurship grants women a unique platform to understand the daily challenges facing the business environment: from lack of funding and difficulty accessing markets, to bureaucratic complexities and weak infrastructure. This practical understanding is not necessarily held by the decision-maker operating behind a desk, but it becomes accessible when female entrepreneurs organize their efforts in the form of professional clusters or networks.

This phenomenon has begun to clearly emerge in the Gulf. For example, in Saudi Arabia, businesswomen established councils and committees within the Chambers of Commerce and were able to present practical recommendations to the Ministry of Commerce regarding facilitating the registration of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and simplifying procedures. In the UAE, businesswomen played a prominent role in advocating for policies supporting digital entrepreneurship, which helped launch government initiatives focused on technological innovation.

The Power of Organization and Women’s Networks

Individual success is important, but it is insufficient to engineer political or economic change. What distinguishes the current stage is that women have begun collective action through networks. In Yemen, despite security and economic challenges, small women's associations emerged in Aden and Sana'a to enhance funding opportunities for small projects. These associations were not limited to internal support; they began weaving relationships with Gulf and international institutions, giving them a voice that transcends Yemen’s borders.

These networks, when expanded to include the Gulf and North Africa, can transform into an regional economic pressure group. Imagine female entrepreneurs from Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Jordan, and Egypt convening on a single policy paper regarding targeted funding for women. This type of effort imposes itself on government agendas because it combines practical experience with numerical strength.

From Markets to Legislation

The matter does not stop at financing. It extends to digitalization and e-commerce. Women's experiences in launching digital sales platforms have prompted some Ministries of Communications and Economy to update e-commerce legislation in line with the practical reality effectively led by women.

Challenges to the Transition to Policy

Naturally, the road is not without difficulties. There are those who believe that women's natural place is in managing small projects, while major economic decisions are left to men. This mentality still persists in some institutions, limiting women's access to decision-making circles.

Furthermore, some women's networks suffer from weak continuity. They rely on voluntary efforts or external support, making them vulnerable to stagnation at the first crisis. Therefore, building sustainable networks requires institutional funding and a strong administrative structure.

Future Prospects: From Initiatives to Regional Policies

The next step that could change the rules of the game is transforming local initiatives into organized regional networks. We need an umbrella that brings together female entrepreneurs from the Gulf, Yemen, and neighboring countries, not just to exchange experiences or success stories, but to formulate regional policy papers to be presented to governments and international organizations.

For instance, a women's policy paper on the Green Economy could propose unified legislation for managing renewable energy in Yemen and the Gulf. Alternatively, a joint women-led initiative in the Blue Economy (maritime tourism, sustainable fishing) could transform into a regional policy that encourages investment in this sector.

What We Expect from [The Oasis] in Supporting This Transition

We expect from [The Oasis] to solidify its position as a collective platform for dialogue and communication among young and female leaders in the region, and to contribute to transforming individual efforts into interconnected regional initiatives. We also look forward to the Forum supporting the organization of specialized economic meetings for female entrepreneurs, leading to the formation of an effective regional network capable of submitting practical policy proposals that express the voice of women and contribute to shaping a more stable and cooperative future.

The transition from entrepreneurship to influencing public policy is neither a luxury nor a symbolic step. It is a strategic path that redefines the role of women in the regional economy. When women organize themselves into networks and present visions based on their practical experience, they not only contribute to strengthening the status of women but also build a more resilient and sustainable economy.

Women's participation in formulating economic policies is not merely a demand for achieving justice; it is a necessity for building a more stable and innovative regional future.

Would you like me to structure the article as ready for direct website publication (with sub-formatting in bold and bullet points) or do you prefer it as a long, continuous text article as it is?