The Iraqi Private Banks League(IPBL), represented by Deputy Executive Director Ahmed al-Hashimi, participated in a panel discussion at the Women and Economic Development Forum, organized by the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers' National Directorate for Women in cooperation with Bayt al-Hikma Training and Consulting Company (BHTC) and sponsored by the Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI). The forum was held under the theme: "From Empowerment to Sustainability: Women at the Heart of Economic Transformation."

During the session, al-Hashemi stressed that the banking sector deals with men and women on the basis of the principle of complete equality in access to banking services and products, emphasizing that no discrimination exists between the two genders in banking procedures or programs.

He explained that the real challenge lies not in creating separate banking programs for women, but rather in the need to build a comprehensive support system that helps them effectively benefit from financing and banking services through training, financial literacy, mentoring, careful project assessment, and market access.

He indicated that the measures implemented with direct support from the Central Bank of Iraq and other banks have significantly contributed to enhancing access to financing. However, he added that financing alone is insufficient unless it is directed towards a clear and sustainable project.

Supporting women's economic participation is a shared responsibility that requires genuine coordination among government institutions, the banking sector, the private sector, and development organizations to ensure that financing translates into tangible and sustainable impact in the Iraqi market, he said.

Concluding his remarks, al-Hashimi stressed that genuine women's empowerment is achieved not through slogans but by creating a fair and practical environment that enables women to compete, grow, establish sustainable businesses, and generate new employment opportunities.