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Iraqi Women Take Business Into Their Own Hands
American Forces Press Service ^
| Spc. Stephanie Cassinos, USA
Posted on 08/06/2009 4:31:22 PM PDT by SandRat
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq, Aug. 6, 2009 Iraqi women discussed opportunities in business development and contracting with U.S. soldiers and contractors during a meeting at Basra Airport in Iraq.
Army Capt. Ann Demapan, a womens initiatives coordinator for Multinational Division South, discusses business opportunities available to educated Iraqi women at a conference at Basra Airport, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Stephanie Cassinos (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. |
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The conference highlighted opportunities with Joint Contracting Command Iraqs women-owned business initiative, a program that reserves Defense Department contracts for businesses primarily owned by women.
The target audience for the conference was educated women, because contracting normally deals with a huge scope of work that requires specialties in engineering and business management, explained Army Capt. Ann Demapan, a womens initiatives coordinator with Multinational Division South. Programs like these can prove to both men and women that women are competitive and competent in almost any field of work.
Jasim al-Sarraf, a business development consultant with Regional Contracting Center Basra, noted that most contractors in Iraq are men. We know for sure that there are many educated women in this society, he said. The university is pumping students out every year. They need jobs. They need income. And if they dont have it, theyll end up sitting at home.
Civil affairs and contractors help Iraqi women by introducing business opportunities. They also train them on becoming a Defense Department-contracted company, from filling out paperwork to learning contracting rules and ethics.
Its our job to find them, get them out, encourage them to have a company, show them the way to do it, and train them, Sarraf said.
In 2008, the command awarded 4 percent of its contracts to women-owned businesses, totaling $187 million. Adding on to past successes, this year, the aspirations are even higher.
Joint Contracting Command Iraq has made it a goal to award 10 percent of its contracts to women contractors, Demapan said. Women contractors will only compete amongst other women contractors. Past contracts done by women contractors resulted in quality, professional work.
Both Sarraf and Demapan said they believe the conference was beneficial for the women who attended.
My objective is first encouraging them, stimulating them, Sarraf said, then to give them a general idea about the contracts, and tell them that We are here to help you.
Demapan said the women were eager for details, and many asked how to fill out contractor applications. And even before the conference took place, 40 women contractors applied to [the command] to be added into their database system of contractors.
Iraqi women at the conference also expressed a desire to give back to their communities.
Some of the women were very passionate in wanting to help other women in rural areas, Demapan said. Some spoke of outreach programs concerning health care and humanitarian assistance for women in rural areas.
Demapan said she hopes to help women understand how their roles as business owners can offer Iraq even more than economic development.
The ladies and I share a commonality, in that we are mothers, Demapan said. Mothers only want the best provided for their children. That entails building a strong Iraq for their children.
I wanted to convey to them that all Iraqis -- men and women -- have a stake in the future of Iraq, she continued, [and] that the women of Iraq need
to be recognized as major players in policy-making and decision-making for their motherland.
(Army Spc. Stephanie Cassinos serves in Multinational Division South.)
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: frwn; iraq; iraqiwomen; women
1
posted on
08/06/2009 4:31:23 PM PDT
by
SandRat
To: 91B; HiJinx; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; clintonh8r; TEXOKIE; windchime; freekitty; majhenrywest; ...
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2
posted on
08/06/2009 4:31:52 PM PDT
by
SandRat
(Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)
To: SandRat
I hope it works.
It’s sad that we have to teach them ethics.
Btw, (Off topic,sorry),I heard that the closest word to honesty in the Chinese language is ‘gullible’.
Does anyone know if that is true?
3
posted on
08/06/2009 4:40:37 PM PDT
by
fanfan
(Why did they bury Barry's past?)
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