Global Victoria Women brings women together to bust myths and realise opportunities in the MENA region.
Our Global Victoria Women (GVw) initiative and the Australian Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry partnered in June to deliver a business roundtable focused on women’s experiences doing business in the MENA region.
The event featured insights from women with decades of experience across the region and in several sectors, discussed the realities of being a woman in business in the region and provided a dive deep into current opportunities and trends, including the continued trend focusing on upskilling local populations across the GCC and the focus on health-promoting food products.
Victoria strengthens its relationship with the UAE on the sidelines of the Paris Olympics
Victoria’s Commissioner to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Türkiye, Gönül Serbest participated in a panel session hosted by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the sidelines of the Paris Olympics which focused on the role of sport in fostering international cooperation and cultural exchange.
The event featured notable speakers, including HE Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State for the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs; HE Ghanim Al Hajeri, Director General of the General Authority of Sports of the UAE; and HE Samuel Ducroquet, French Ambassador for Sport.
Key discussions revolved around sharing best practices, promoting economic benefits through sport and cultural tourism, and emphasising the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement. The event highlighted Victoria’s strengths across the sports economy and how we can leverage sport to enhance trade and investment opportunities with the UAE.
Saudi Arabia set to host the first-ever Olympic Esports Games
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced in July that the first edition of the Olympic Esports Games will be hosted by Saudi Arabia in 2025 as a part of a 12-year partnership with the IOC.
Esports is booming in Saudi Arabia, as 67% of Saudis consider themselves to be gamers and in the last two years the Kingdom has hosted two international esports tournaments with 17,000 elite esports athletes from 80 countries participating.
The announcement also takes place in the context of significant growth in the Kingdom’s sports sector overall. Sports participation levels have almost tripled since 2015 to just under 50% of the population and there are now over 330,000 registered female athletes and almost 40 women’s national teams competing on the global stage.
The IOC’s announcement comes as Melbourne is set to host the Business of Esports and Gaming Summit in October 2024, featuring industry leaders from around Australia. This increased focus on sports holds a significant opportunity for Victoria, as our world-class capabilities across the sports ecosystem are well-matched to Saudi Arabia’s ambitions.
Sports economy trade mission to the GCC – November 2024
Global Victoria will be taking its inaugural sports economy trade mission to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in November 2024. If you are interested in more information about this mission, get in contact with us.
GCC Market Insights and Networking with Lulu Hypermarket Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – August 2024
Global Victoria, in partnership with Export Connect, is holding a GCC Market Insights and Networking event as part of Lulu Hypermarket’s inbound buyer mission to Melbourne on Friday, August 30, 2024. Allocation is exhausted for this event.
Lulu Hypermarket is one of the biggest retail chains in the GCC, with over 260 stores across the region. This event will give you the latest market intelligence on F&B consumer trends and a chance to network with representatives from Lulu Hypermarket and other industry stakeholders.