RIYADH — Minister of Commerce and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Organization for Certified Public Accountants (SOCPA) Dr. Majed Al-Qasabi inaugurated a program to empower women in the accounting profession. Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Eng. Ahmed Al-Rajhi, SOCPA Secretary General Dr. Ahmed Al-Maghames, and a number of Saudi female accountants, who have obtained SOCPA fellowship, attended the virtual event. The program has been formulated to support the journey of women in the accounting profession and enhance their capabilities that contribute to economic development to achieve the vision of an ambitious nation that seeks to empower accountants and is confident in the capabilities of Saudi women, through major tracks that include training, qualification, leadership and employment. Speaking on the occasion, Al-Qasabi stressed that the accounting profession is one of the highest and most prestigious professions and it is the backbone for any establishment and a key element to raise confidence in the national economy and the business system. “The organization’s launch of this program will enhance the developmental role of women to advance the profession in order to achieve the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, noting that women today have the real will, high ambition and determination to excel and succeed in various fields, especially the accounting profession that requires accuracy, analysis and vitality, and the Saudi women have acquired these specifications,” he said. Al-Qasabi expressed happiness over the presence of 140 women who have obtained a fellowship certificate, which measures a person’s abilities and capabilities to enter the profession. “More than 10,000 boy and girl students in the field of accounting will benefit from the proposed programs and initiatives of the organization,” he said, adding that the organization will continue cooperation with universities in this regard. On his part, Al-Maghames said that the program is one of the strategic initiatives of SOCPA to increase the number of professionals and enable economic sectors to obtain appropriate accounting and auditing services. “Through the program to empower women in the profession, we seek to develop women’s leadership skills locally and internationally through their participation in the board and committees under the organization,” he said. Al-Maghames said that SOCPA is working to establish a Small and Medium Professional Enterprises Support Center, which will be supportive to professionals to improve their competence and entrepreneurship. “The launch of the Women Empowerment Program includes several initiatives such as the Voluntary Club, Accounting Leadership, Empowerment Platform and the Women’s Council, and it is the starting point for a package of partnerships with various sectors that will enhance the program’s effectiveness and achieve its goals,” he added.