A potential economic windfall awaits the Middle East and North Africa region if countries can close the gender gap and help more women into business. The International Finance Corporation's "She Wins Arabia" supports female-led start-ups across the Middle East and North Africa with finance and mentorship.

The second round of the initiative was launched last month and it is expanding to support 100 additional women-led startups and over 30 additional fund managers across Mena. The number of countries included in the IFC initiative has also grown to over 20 and will now also cover Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Syria, and other countries in the region.

Sammar Essmat, Gender Lead, Middle East, Central Asia and Turkey at the IFC, talks to Mustafa Alrawi about the importance of providing such opportunities.

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