Ruaa Centre and Ministry of Industry and Trade Discuss Strengthening Partnership to Empower Coastal Women Leaders and Promote Eco-Friendly Alternatives

Ruaa Centre for Strategic Studies, Consultancy and Training met today, Tuesday, with Mr Mohammed Abdullah Al-Humaidi, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade for Foreign Trade, to discuss opportunities for strengthening institutional partnership in support of the “Coastal Women Leaders” project, linking the economic empowerment of coastal women with sustainable environmental solutions and efforts to reduce the use of single-use plastic products.

The meeting was attended by Mr Niazi Mustafa, Director General of the Environmental Protection Authority in Aden, and focused on developing the project's economic pathway by supporting women participants in producing and marketing eco-friendly alternatives, while creating channels of engagement with government institutions, the private sector and local markets.

Participants discussed a number of practical mechanisms to enhance market access, including developing marketing and distribution channels for the women-led products and building links with the private sector and relevant commercial entities. These efforts aim to transform environmentally friendly products from small-scale initiatives into viable and sustainable income-generating activities.

Dr Jaklin Al-Batani, President of Ruaa Centre, emphasised that the “Coastal Women Leaders” project adopts an integrated approach that combines environmental protection with women's economic empowerment. She explained that the project's objective goes beyond training women to produce eco-friendly alternatives, extending to strengthening their marketing skills, connecting them with consumers, and creating more sustainable income-generating opportunities.

Dr Al-Batani also highlighted the importance of partnerships with government institutions and the private sector in creating a supportive environment for women-led small enterprises and increasing demand for locally produced eco-friendly products. Such partnerships can contribute to creating economic opportunities for women while supporting efforts to reduce plastic pollution in coastal areas.

For his part, Mr Mohammed Abdullah Al-Humaidi, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade for the Private Trade Sector, stressed the importance of supporting initiatives that link economic development with environmental protection. He noted that strengthening connections between women entrepreneurs, government institutions and the private sector can help improve their products and expand their access to markets.

The meeting also discussed opportunities to promote reuse, recycling and circular economy practices by encouraging women to make use of available materials and reusable waste and transform them into products with economic value. This approach can create additional opportunities for entrepreneurship while generating simultaneous environmental and economic benefits.

The participants further discussed opportunities to develop and expand the “Coastal Women Leaders” project based on lessons learned from its current phase, with a focus on building a model that can be further developed and replicated in other coastal communities, while linking training and production with marketing and actual market demand.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the participants stressed the importance of continued coordination between Ruaa Centre, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and relevant stakeholders, and of developing practical and sustainable mechanisms to connect women-led products with markets, distribution networks and sales channels. Such efforts would strengthen the project's economic sustainability, support women's participation in productive activities, and contribute to reducing reliance on plastic alternatives with negative environmental impacts.